The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile.”By World Israel News StaffIran reportedly launched missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz overnight, damaging at least two tankers in a major escalation that threatens one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.According to Axios, citing two U.S. officials, Iran fired at least two missiles toward commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night.Reuters later reported that a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker suffered significant damage after being struck while traveling through the Omani side of the strait. A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was also damaged near the coast of Oman, according to maritime security sources.Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” approximately eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman.The vessel was traveling southbound when it was struck, causing a fire on its port side.“A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side causing a fire, whilst traveling southbound. No casualties or environmental impact reported. Authorities are investigating,” UKMTO said.Iranian state-run media reported that one of the targeted tankers was using the Omani sea route with U.S. support and was struck after “ignoring repeated warnings.”The reported attacks came hours after President Donald Trump reiterated that he still prefers reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran but warned that the United States is prepared to use military force if negotiations fail.Speaking to reporters during an impromptu appearance in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said his objective is to prevent Iran from retaining enriched uranium rather than pursuing regime change.“I’m not looking to carry out regime change. I want us to have the enriched uranium,” Trump said.He also addressed security in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the United States had ensured the continued flow of maritime traffic through the strategic passage.“Without the Iranians knowing, we got so much oil out of Hormuz and removed the curfew,” Trump said.While expressing hope that diplomacy would succeed, the president coupled his remarks with a warning to Tehran.“Either we’ll make a deal or we’ll finish the job, and it won’t be that hard to finish the job there. But I prefer a deal,” Trump said.The attacks follow a temporary U.S.-Iran understanding reached last week after a weekend of military exchanges near the Strait of Hormuz. Under the agreement, both sides agreed to pause further strikes to allow commercial shipping to move freely through the waterway while negotiations continued. At the time, a U.S. official said, “Both sides will stand down for now, and vessels can move freely.”The post Iran fires missiles at ships in Strait of Hormuz appeared first on World Israel News.