Shipping Body Claims Iranian Gunboats Fired on Tanker in Strait of Hormuz
The British military claimed Saturday two gunboats from Iran opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran announced it had reimposed restrictions on the vital waterway.
Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to an advisory from the UK Maritime Traffic Organization (UKMTO).“Tanker and crew are reported safe,” UKMTO posted.
The incident came as Iran reimposed strict limits on shipping seeking to cross the the Strait of Hormuz in response to President Donald Trump saying Friday that a US blockade on shipping using Iranian ports would continue.“As long as the passage of vessels from Iranian origin to Iranian destination remains under threat, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain in its previous state,” the IRGC Navy posted on X Saturday. Shipping heading towards the strategic waterway has started to turn around after the Iranian military reiterated that transits for commercial shipping would be tightly restricted – so long as a US blockade continues.
The UKMTO noted it had received a direct notification from the tanker captain, who reported “being approached by 2 IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) gun boats”, some 20 nautical miles (30 kms) off the coast of Oman.The captain stated there had been no radio warning before the ship – whose identity was not disclosed by UKMTO - was fired on.
16:14 - 29 فروردین 1405