The Iran fires on tanker Hormuz crisis escalated on Saturday after reports that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats opened fire on a vessel near Oman, just as Tehran again moved to restrict access through the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident took place about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, where a tanker’s master reported that two IRGC gunboats approached and fired without provocation. A second vessel was later hit by what was described as an unknown projectile in the same area.
The reported attack marks a dangerous turn in an already volatile standoff around one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. The tanker and crew were safe, with damage limited to some containers and no fire or environmental spill. Still, the incident drew renewed attention to commercial safety in waters through which a large share of global oil normally flows.
Audio recordings indicated that two Indian vessels were forced back out of the strait after the gunfire, including a supertanker reportedly carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
Iran had briefly claimed on Friday that the strait was open again, only to reassert tighter control on Saturday. Iran’s joint military command reportedly said control of the waterway had returned to its previous state under strict military control. Other Iranian officials signalled that ships may need naval authorisation and could even face toll requirements before transiting. That means the strait may be technically accessible only under conditions set by Tehran, rather than operating as a fully open international shipping route.
US blockade remains in place
The reported maritime attack comes while the US naval blockade of Iranian ports is still in force. The blockade was launched earlier in the week after diplomacy faltered, and American forces have maintained a visible presence in and around the strait. In response to Saturday’s incident, US Central Command shared images of helicopters and naval vessels patrolling the area in support of freedom of navigation. US forces have sent 21 ships back to Iran since the blockade began.
Read: Iran Reopens Hormuz but Warns It Could Close Again
The flare-up highlights the gap between public diplomatic optimism and conditions on the water. While backchannel efforts, including reported Pakistani mediation, are still underway to organise further US-Iran talks, neither side has formally committed to a new round. In the meantime, insurers, shipping companies, and governments are reassessing the risks of passage. That leaves the Strait of Hormuz in an unstable position: partial claims of reopening on one side, armed confrontation and shipping disruption on the other.
