Iran warns it will 'surprise' attackers as ship hit near Doha; US awaits Tehran's response
A bulk carrier reported being struck by a projectile northeast of Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, heightening regional tensions as Iran warned it would “surprise” any future attacker with new weapons and tactics. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a small fire on the vessel was extinguished and no casualties or environmental damage were reported.
Authorities are investigating the source of the projectile. The incident came as the United States said it is still awaiting a response from Iran to a peace proposal amid a standoff around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have vowed to retaliate against any further attacks on its vessels by the US.
According to the state-run Tasnim news agency, Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said that if the country were attacked again, its adversaries would be “surprised” by new weapons, fresh methods of warfare and new arenas of war. He also warned, as reported by Tasnim, that countries complying with US sanctions on Iran could face difficulties while crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
The tensions are unfolding alongside new US sanctions announced this week on more than a dozen entities based in West Asia and China, which Washington accused of aiding Iran’s war efforts. In Lebanon, cross-border violence persisted.
The National News Agency reported that Israeli forces’ attacks killed two Syrian nationals riding a motorcycle on the main road between Qlailah and Deir Qanoun; it said Civil Defense teams were working to recover the bodies in coordination with the Lebanese Army.
The agency also reported strikes on the town of Srifa at dawn. Energy markets remain on edge. Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser told Reuters the world has been deprived of roughly 1 billion barrels of oil over the past two months and cautioned that even if energy flows resume, the system would take time to return to normal.
“Our objective is simple: keep energy flowing, even when the system is under strain,” he said. Analysts told PTI that stock markets are likely to stay sensitive to geopolitical developments this week, with investors focused on crude prices, the rupee-dollar trend, and foreign investor activity.
Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Russian President Vladimir Putin, cited by ANI, said Moscow had previously helped lay the groundwork for a 2015 agreement with Iran and remains engaged on “peaceful atoms,” including work at Bushehr. He said Russia is ready to repeat that effort, noting that earlier cooperation played a positive role in enabling talks among interested countries and Iran.
In a separate development, Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s Football Federation, said on state television that Tehran has set 10 conditions for participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Al Jazeera. He said Iran is seeking guarantees on timely visas, respect for the national team’s staff, flag and anthem, and enhanced security at airports, hotels and routes to stadiums where Iran’s matches will be held.
The investigation into the projectile strike near Doha is ongoing. With Washington saying it awaits Tehran’s reply to a proposal and Iran issuing fresh warnings over the Strait of Hormuz, markets and governments are bracing for further ripples across energy supplies and regional security.