Merchant vessels attempting to cross the strait on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass.
Merchant vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire, shipping sources said.
Several commercial vessels tried to transit the strait after receiving a notice to mariners a day earlier saying passage would be allowed but restricted to lanes Iran deemed safe.
On Saturday, at least two ships reported that Iranian boats fired shots, shipping and maritime security sources told Reuters. The incidents were reported in waters between the Qeshm and Larak islands. The vessels turned back without completing the crossing, the sources said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The captain of a tanker said it had been approached by two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats that fired on the vessel. The tanker and its crew were safe.
A container ship was also hit by gunfire, a maritime security source said.
Some vessels reported that Iran’s navy had been broadcasting a VHF message saying the Strait of Hormuz was closed again.
“Attention all ships, regarding the failure of the U.S. government to fulfill its commitment in the negotiation, Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz completely closed again. No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” the radio message said.
Hundreds of ships and about 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf, waiting to pass through the key waterway, which handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
“American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition” will remain open until at least July 2027.
The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System provides critical forensic pathology and contingency logistics for NASA's crewed launches to ensure immediate medical and investigative readiness in the event of a mishap.
From emerging data networks to missile tracking and cyber resilience, Breaking Defense’s latest eBook brings together essential reporting on the evolving role of satellites in national security.
While the advocacy group Operation 85 met the 60% DNA threshold last November, the DPAA has finally confirmed its effort.