Iran's government has formally taken responsibility for the overnight attack on a Qatari gas tanker near the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. The claim follows earlier reports that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck the vessel after it ignored warnings.
Iran's government formally took responsibility for the attack on the Qatari gas tanker Al-Rakiat early Tuesday, as reported by Iranian state media shortly after 09:00 Jerusalem. The claim – which cites the vessel's alleged failure to heed warnings while transiting via the Omani route with US Navy support – marks the first official Tehran-level acknowledgment of a strike that has unfolded in rapid, escalating phases since the small hours of the morning.
The attack first emerged in reports just before 03:34 Jerusalem, when multiple Israeli and international outlets – including Ynet, Axios (citing an American official), and journalist Asaf Rozentsweig (citing US sources) – said the IRGC had fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with heavy damage reported. By 03:34, the Wall Street Journal identified the struck vessel as the Qatari-owned LNG tanker Al-Rayyat (also transliterated Al-Rakiat), noting an audio recording suggested its engine room caught fire but all crew members were safe. Those details remained unverified by independent sources at the time. The earliest thread item (03:34) framed the attack as a renewal of Iranian strikes following the expiration of a week-long US-Iran understanding on a cessation of attacks, a timeline corroborated by Barak Ravid (N12) citing senior US officials.
As The Zioneer has reported in recent weeks (June 26, June 28), the broader context includes Iran's assertion of sole responsibility for managing the Strait of Hormuz – a claim made publicly by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi – and a series of US retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets (June 28). The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint since at least early June, with Iran firing ballistic missiles from Khomeyn (June 10) and claiming attacks on enemy forces near the waterway (June 11).
It remains unconfirmed whether the tanker suffered damage to its engine room as earlier reported, and no casualty figures have been released by any party. The extent of any US response – which multiple thread versions had predicted – also remains unannounced as of this update.
12 developments
- StrongOil tanker hit by gunfire off Oman coast, crew safe — UKMTO
- StrongIRGC rocket hits merchant ship off Oman after radio warning; 3 vessels turn back
- DevelopingIRGC launches missile at vessel attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIranian state media claims gas tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz after ignoring warnings
Source and signal
- Internal intake