Iranian cargo ship struck in Strait of Hormuz as talks with Gulf states postponed

An Iranian cargo vessel was struck early Sunday near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. The island's governor blamed a "terrorist enemy" for the attack, which killed one person and wounded four others. The US military did not immediately comment on the incident.

The strike renewed attention on the Strait of Hormuz after threats to shipping intensified last week in the Red Sea as well, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels fighting Yemen's government seized an island on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key alternative shipping route. Qeshm Island, located roughly 22 kilometers from the port city of Bandar Abbas, plays a central role in Iran's efforts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Hours before the attack, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone on social media, saying Iran's people could not be bullied into submission and that the country would not surrender. US President Donald Trump, speaking from Ireland, said Iran was eager to reach a deal and was in constant contact over it. When asked whether the US had struck the Iranian vessel, Trump declined to answer directly.

Iran had planned to host regional foreign ministers in Oman on Monday to discuss Iranian-Omani efforts to manage shipping through the strait. However, Oman's foreign minister announced the meeting had been postponed "in the interests of consensus," following a request from some regional countries. Saudi Arabia reportedly submitted amendments to the Iran-Oman framework, citing concerns over its long-term impact on other Gulf Cooperation Council members.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains low amid ongoing attacks. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a vessel hit by a projectile in the strait, sparking a severe fire. Separately, Pezeshkian said he had a positive discussion with the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates during the BRICS summit in New Delhi.