Iranian Cargo Vessel Struck Off Qeshm Island, One Killed, Hours Before Iran-Gulf Hormuz Talks

An Iranian commercial cargo vessel was struck early Sunday roughly 14 miles from Bandar Abbas, off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one of its 10 crew members and wounding four others, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported. The Qeshm governor blamed a 'terrorist enemy' for the strike; the projectile's origin was not immediately identified, and there was no immediate comment from the US military, which has struck Iranian-flagged vessels during its blockade of Iranian ports. The attack came one day before Iran was set to brief Gulf Cooperation Council counterparts and Iraq in Salalah, Oman on its contested efforts to manage strait shipping; only Iraq had publicly confirmed attendance, while Bahrain declined, citing the absence of diplomatic relations with Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded: 'Our people can't be bullied into submission. Iran won't surrender.' President Trump, speaking from his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, said Iran 'wants to make a deal so bad' and is 'calling constantly.'