A nighttime strike ignited a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz while Iran linked talks to an end to US threats, raising fears of wider escalation.
On July 7, in the Strait of Hormuz, damage to two tankers was recorded, and Iran said that further peace negotiations would not take place until Donald Trump stops his repeated threats to begin a new phase of war, against the backdrop of mass funerals for the country’s leader, during which millions of citizens vow revenge.
Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is the vessel Al Rekayyat, LNG vessel Al Rekayyat. We are being attacked by a drone on the left side, above the engine room. Status: fire in the engine room and heavy smoke. It is currently not possible to assess further damage.
– Captain of the vessel Al Rekayyat
According to preliminary maritime safety data, one of the Al Rekayyat tankers was struck at night, its engine room engulfed in flames. There were also reports of damage to a Saudi crude oil tanker. Neither side has claimed responsibility for the attack, and no official comments from either side have yet been issued.
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Qom
Iran’s leadership is showing heightened control over one of the world’s most important energy supply routes. During the week of mourning for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, thousands filled the cities, carrying flags and placards calling for revenge, reflecting high mobilization in the wake of the leader’s death. In Qom, the ceremonies were mingled with mass marches, while in other cities mourning events were held with the participation of senior religious and political figures.
Funeral processions with the leader and members of his family passed through the streets of the city, after which the body is expected to be moved to Shiite shrines in neighboring Iraq, and later returned to Iran for the final burial. Such events emphasize the symbolism of national unity in the context of dramatic events amid the conflict.
Trump and the negotiations: will there be peace?
Against the backdrop of a pause in the war that had been arranged for a temporary period, Washington said it intended to resume negotiations, though specific steps remained unclear. At the same time, Western leaders stressed the importance of a deal that seemed necessary to halt Iran’s nuclear program, while Iran denied any such aim.
Iranian officials noted that negotiations on a final agreement would not begin if the threats continued. They also, in open statements, stressed adherence to signatures in international agreements. In the world economy, these events affected oil prices, which after the resumption of shipping through the Strait rose again by about one percent on Tuesday.
When the war began four months ago, Trump spoke of the aim of destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, depriving it of the ability to threaten neighbors, and creating conditions for the overthrow of the current regime. Although these goals were not achieved, the United States argues that a long-term agreement would halt a potential Iranian nuclear program, which, according to Iran, was never the aim.
Despite the five-day mourning, Mojtaba, Ayatollah Khamenei’s son, did not appear publicly; other family members appeared at the ceremonies. Iran’s leaders are presenting mass funeral events as evidence of national unity after the strikes by US and Israeli forces, but due to media control it is difficult to gauge the population’s true attitude toward the events.
In the broader context, regional events remain an important factor for global energy supplies, and the international community continues to monitor developments in the period after the start of the conflict. The end of mourning and the parties’ next moves remain key to predicting future steps in the region.