A cargo ship caught fire Sunday after being struck by an unknown projectile off Qatar’s coast, the British military reported, marking the latest challenge to the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s military intercepted several hostile drones in its airspace, the first such incident since the April ceasefire. No casualties were reported in either attack.
The ceasefire, which paused fighting between the U.S. and Iran, has faced repeated strains. Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, while the U.S. maintains a blockade of Iranian ports. Washington has proposed a deal to reopen the strait and roll back Iran’s nuclear program, but negotiations remain stalled.
One major obstacle is Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which the U.N. nuclear agency says exceeds 440 kilograms at up to 60% purity—close to weapons-grade levels. Iran’s military has warned of potential infiltration attempts against its nuclear sites, including the Isfahan complex, which has been targeted in past conflicts. The U.S. has threatened to resume full-scale bombing if Iran does not accept the proposed agreement.