A northbound bulk carrier reported being attacked by multiple small craft approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, east of the Strait of Hormuz, on Sunday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received the report from the vessel's master, stating that all crew members were safe and there was no reported damage to the ship or environmental impact.

The incident marks at least the 24th attack on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, 2026. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's assault, but Iranian fast-attack boats have been implicated in prior incidents using swarm tactics.

The attack occurred as Iran awaited a U.S. response to its latest 14-point peace proposal, delivered through Pakistan, which calls for ending the war within 30 days, lifting sanctions, terminating the U.S. naval blockade, and withdrawing American forces from the region. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about the offer on social media, stating that Iran "has not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity and the World, over the last 47 years."

A fragile ceasefire has held since late April between the U.S., Israel, and Iranian forces, following intense fighting that has killed thousands across the region. The U.S. imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, 2026, aiming to cut off Tehran's oil exports and military supplies, while Iran has restricted transit through the strait, demanding fees and oversight for non-U.S. and non-Israeli vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, carries about one-fifth of the world's oil trade, as well as natural gas, fertilizers, and humanitarian goods. Disruptions have anchored hundreds of vessels at either end of the strait and driven up global energy prices. U.S. forces have seized Iranian-flagged ships attempting to evade the blockade, including the cargo vessel Touska on April 19, when the USS Spruance fired into its engine room before Marines boarded.

Previous attacks include incidents on April 22, when cargo and container ships were fired upon, and earlier strikes in March that damaged three vessels and led to crew evacuations. Iran maintains control over much of the strait and has vowed it will not return to pre-war conditions, according to a deputy parliament speaker. Trump has ordered U.S. forces to "shoot and kill" small Iranian boats deploying mines or threatening shipping.

Direct talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiators, mediated by Pakistan, occurred in Islamabad in mid-April but yielded no breakthrough on key issues like Iran's nuclear program, regional proxies, and Strait of Hormuz access. The war has resulted in over 3,000 deaths in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, and dozens among U.S. and Israeli forces.