Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attacks commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attacked commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting on Wednesday, in a development that immediately triggered new U.S. military strikes and renewed fears of disruption in one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.

The Associated Press reported that the United States launched fresh airstrikes on Iran after the reported attacks on commercial vessels. The Wall Street Journal separately reported that U.S. forces struck missile and drone sites near the strait, saying the strikes were intended to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and civilian mariners.

President Donald Trump said the attacks on ships signaled that a fragile ceasefire was over, though AP reported that negotiations could still continue. U.S. Central Command said it had hit about 90 targets across Iran in the latest strikes, according to AP.

What was reported

AP said Iran’s state media described explosions in several locations, including Bushehr, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Abbas and Sirik. The news agency also reported that at least three people were killed in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province and that a firefighter was killed at an airport in Iranshahr.

AP also reported that Iranian forces fired on Bahrain and Kuwait, and said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for attacks on those Gulf states. The WSJ said the U.S. strikes were aimed in part at reducing the threat to shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow and strategically vital passage through which a large share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports move. Any sustained interruption there can ripple through fuel prices, freight costs and supply chains far beyond the region.

Shipping, markets and safety

AP reported that oil prices rose and that tanker traffic through the strait had essentially stopped. That would point to a severe short-term shock if it persists, with shippers facing higher insurance costs, rerouting decisions and a greater safety risk for crews.

At the same time, WSJ live coverage cited ship-tracking data showing daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained near recent averages, around 36 to 41 crossings a day. The conflicting snapshots suggest the situation is still fluid and that the scale of disruption may depend on whether attacks continue.

Shipping companies, mariners and Gulf states are among the most exposed parties. Bahrain and Kuwait were already mentioned in the reporting as targets of Iranian fire, while U.S. forces in the region remain on alert after the new airstrikes.

What happens next

The main unanswered questions are which specific vessels were attacked, what damage or casualties they sustained, and whether Iranian or U.S. officials issue a more formal statement naming the ship attacks.

The broader strategic question is whether the latest exchange breaks the ceasefire for good or becomes another brief but dangerous round of retaliation. For now, the reporting points to a fast-moving escalation with direct implications for global shipping, energy markets and civilian safety in the Strait of Hormuz.