TEHRAN, April 18 : Two vessels, including an Indian-flagged supertanker, were forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after being approached by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval units, according to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed reports of the incident, issuing KMTO WARNING 038-26. A container ship was struck by an unknown projectile, causing damage to some containers, though no fires or environmental hazards were reported. Authorities are investigating the attack.
Audio recordings reportedly indicate that the IRGC gunboats fired upon the vessels before redirecting them westward, Iranian media reported.
. One of the ships involved was a very large crude carrier carrying approximately two million barrels of Iraqi oil. Some merchant vessels also received radio messages stating that the Strait of Hormuz was temporarily closed to shipping.
The escalation comes as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out “precise strikes” against Hezbollah targets in response to alleged ceasefire violations.
The incidents highlight mounting tensions in a critical global shipping corridor, with India continuing to import Iranian crude despite the risk.
UKMTO has urged vessels transiting the Strait to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately. (UNI)
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