Iran claims strike on US ship in Strait of Hormuz as fighting escalates

CAIRO — Iran asserted on Sunday that it had targeted an unmanned U.S. vessel attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating the recent surge in hostilities between the two nations. The claim from Iran has yet to be corroborated by the U.S., who did not officially confirm the alleged strike, which transpired the day prior to the U.S. military announcing the destruction of three Iranian oil tankers in response to a missile assault on Navy ships.

The conflict ignited with simultaneous U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iran on February 28. Despite the establishment of a ceasefire agreement in June, intermittent hostilities have continued, with both parties attempting to inflict economic and military damage through retaliatory strikes as negotiations have unraveled. The recent spate of assaults emerged a week after the resumption of hostilities, following a month-long lull, with the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian populations along its borders once again becoming targets.

At least five individuals were reported deceased earlier in the week following a U.S. bombing of southern Iran. The Trump administration appears to have adopted a dual-prong strategy to the conflict, responding militarily to attacks on the strait while simultaneously targeting foreign financial institutions.