Iranian forces fired on three merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz; a Qatari LNG carrier was set alight and other ships were damaged. According to five government officials and two IRGC members, President Pezeshkian angrily phoned IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, who told him he had neither approved nor been notified of the action; the Supreme National Security Council likewise said it was not informed. Officials say a marginal hardline faction acted independently, and the covert operation derai

Iranian forces fired on three merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz; a Qatari LNG carrier was set alight and other ships were damaged. According to five government officials and two IRGC members, President Pezeshkian angrily phoned IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, who told him he had neither approved nor been notified of the action; the Supreme National Security Council likewise said it was not informed. Officials say a marginal hardline faction acted independently, and the covert operation derailed moderates’ efforts to negotiate with the United States and to repair Iran’s weak economy.