The US news website Axios, citing an American official, revealed that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired at least two missiles at commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, in a new escalation that threatens navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways.

The US official told Axios that the attack caused significant damage to two vessels, with no casualties reported.

Tehran, despite US opposition, insists on its position of not returning to the previous situation that allowed free passage through the strait, threatening any vessel that attempts to circumvent the only permitted route, which runs along its coastline.

At the end of last June, Washington accused Tehran of targeting two ships, and responded by striking Iran, after which Tehran launched attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain. Subsequently, the two sides reached an agreement for a temporary cessation of hostilities.

The Strait of Hormuz is the main waterway connecting the oil-rich Gulf states to the rest of the world's markets, especially Asian markets. In 2024, the volume of crude oil passing through it reached about 20 million barrels per day, equivalent to nearly 20% of total global liquid oil consumption, according to the US Energy Information Administration.