Iran Fires Missiles at Commercial Ships After Funeral Crowds Chant ‘Death to Trump’ and ‘Death to Bibi’

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles at commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, escalating tensions just hours after massive funeral processions for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei featured chants of “Death to Trump” and “Death to Bibi.”

Senior U.S. officials said at least two commercial ships were struck, suffering significant damage, though no casualties were immediately reported. U.K. Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that a tanker traveling southbound near Oman reported being hit by an unknown projectile on its port side, causing a fire. Authorities said there were no reported casualties or environmental impact, but warned ships in the region to transit with caution.

The attacks came amid a volatile national atmosphere in Iran following Khamenei’s funeral, where regime loyalists filled the streets in a choreographed display of mourning, defiance, and revolutionary anger. Crowds were heard denouncing the United States and Israel, including chants calling for death to President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The missile strikes also followed a blunt warning from Trump on Monday, July 6, that Washington would either reach a final agreement with Tehran or move decisively to end the threat.

“We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “And it won’t be tough to finish the job. I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded Tuesday by accusing Washington of violating the spirit of the memorandum of understanding reached last month. He said Tehran would not begin negotiations on a final agreement “if threats continue,” insisting that paragraph 13 of the deal barred talks under continued pressure.

“Honor your signature,” Araghchi wrote on X, sharing images from Khamenei’s funeral and praising what he called the unity of “millions of proud Iranians.”

The reported attacks came after a temporary arrangement between Iran and the United States to halt attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz expired. The strategic waterway remains one of the world’s most important energy corridors, and any disruption threatens global shipping, oil prices, and the security of America’s Gulf partners.

One of the vessels under attack appeared to be the Al Rekayyat, a liquefied natural gas tanker owned and managed by Nakilat, Qatar’s LNG shipping arm. According to maritime radio traffic cited by The Wall Street Journal, the vessel reported being struck near the top of the engine room, filling the area with smoke. The crew was reportedly safe and mustered on the starboard side.

Iran’s state broadcaster claimed the tanker was targeted after attempting to travel through a U.S.-backed Omani route and ignoring repeated Iranian warnings. Over the weekend, the Revolutionary Guard reportedly warned vessels by maritime radio: “Our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you.”

The escalation underscores the power of the Revolutionary Guard inside Iran’s fractured leadership. While diplomats discuss a possible permanent ceasefire and broader agreement, Iran’s military hardliners continue to use threats, terror proxies, and maritime aggression to project strength and pressure the West.

For the United States, Israel, and Gulf states, Tuesday’s missile strikes offered another warning that Tehran’s promises on paper cannot be separated from the regime’s revolutionary ideology on the streets and its military actions at sea.

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