Iran says it hit MSC Sariska cargo ship with cruise missile in Arabian Gulf

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it struck the cargo vessel MSC Sariska with a cruise missile in the Arabian Gulf, after British maritime authorities reported two impacts on a ship off southern Iraq. No crew injuries were reported.

The incident was reported at 1 p.m. UTC on Monday about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr, Iraq, according to UKMTO, a British military-run maritime security office that tracks incidents affecting commercial shipping.

UKMTO said the cargo vessel was transiting the Arabian Gulf when it experienced a large explosion after the possible impact of an unknown projectile on its starboard side. It later said the vessel had been hit a second time, causing a fire that was later extinguished.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency later cited the Revolutionary Guard as saying its navy had targeted MSC Sariska in response to what it called an earlier U.S. attack on the Iranian ship Lian Star in the Gulf of Oman.

The Revolutionary Guard said MSC Sariska was struck with a cruise missile and claimed the vessel had “American-Zionist” ownership. It warned that any U.S. military action in the region would face a response.

An image showing apparent damage to the vessel showed a large opening and torn metal on the side of the ship near the waterline. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

A Panama-flagged cargo ship exploded in Iraqi territorial waters near Umm Qasr port after completing the unloading of its cargo, Alsumaria News reported. Security officials said the blast on the MSC SARISKA V was caused by a technical fault. However, United Kingdom Maritime Trade… pic.twitter.com/WXkMqBPvV5

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 1, 2026