According to a senior U.S. official, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missile attacks early Tuesday, July 7, against two commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a move that the official said could heighten regional tensions and further complicate negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The U.S. official said no casualties were reported as a result of the attacks. According to the official, the strikes came after the expiration of a one-week agreement between Washington and Tehran to halt attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
The report states that the resumption of attacks by the Islamic Republic has cast further uncertainty over the future of negotiations regarding the memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides less than three weeks ago. The official also said the United States may respond by carrying out strikes against targets inside Iran.
The attacks coincided with the funeral of Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to the report, Khamenei was killed on the first day of the Iran war on February 28, 2026. The report also said that a number of Iranian officials attending the funeral emphasized the need to retaliate against those responsible for his death.
In recent weeks, amid increased maritime traffic in Omani waters, the IRGC had stepped up its warnings to commercial vessels transiting the area. According to reports, the force had instructed ships not to use the sea lane near the Omani coast that is endorsed by the U.S. military for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the final days of last week, the IRGC also issued radio warnings to passing vessels, stating: “Our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you.” The Wall Street Journal reported that it has obtained an audio recording of the transmission.
In its report, The Wall Street Journal described the missile attack on commercial vessels during ongoing negotiations as evidence of the IRGC’s influence over the Islamic Republic’s national security decision-making. The newspaper said the organization remains at odds with more moderate factions within the Iranian leadership.
The newspaper had previously reported that the IRGC and its allied factions are among the principal obstacles to reaching an agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic. Under the memorandum of understanding signed last month, the two sides agreed to a 60-day negotiation period aimed at reaching a final deal. However, no significant progress in the talks has been reported so far.
Tuesday’s early-morning attack occurred as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had only recently begun returning to normal levels. According to reports, between 30 and 60 vessels had been transiting the strategic waterway each day in recent days.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
