Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) linked gunboats targeted two oil vessels in theStrait of Hormuzafter the Iranian Navy announced that the strategic trade route had been shut again. As per reports, one of the two tankers targeted in the Hormuz is an Indian-flagged VLCC super tanker containing approximately 2 million tons of Iraqi oil. AP reports have also suggested that two Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Hormuz following reports of gunfire from Iranian guards. The development comes just a day after Iran informed that Hormuz was open for naval traffic for all commercial vessels as long as a ceasefire was in place.
However, as the situation continues to evolve, Iran on Saturday once again closed Hormuz saying it will remain shut until US blockade stays in the region. Meanwhile, a UK based maritime monitoring agency - United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said that two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz. It reported the tanker and crew as safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination. TankerTrackers.com reported that vessels were forced to turn around in the strait, including an Indian-flagged super tanker, after they were fired on by Iran.
Amidst, Reuters reported that more than a dozen tankers, including three sanctioned vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz after a 50-day blockade was lifted on Friday, shipping data showed, before Iran reimposed restrictions again and fired at some vessels.
The news agency further mentioned that it had received a report of a tanker being fired upon by what it said "two gunboats linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)" 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. While in a separate incident, UKMTO said it had received a report of a container ship being hit by an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
Earlier today, Iran's joint military command said, "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state... under strict management and control of the armed forces." It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
The United States pressed ahead with its campaign to choke off Iranian ports, and Iran reversed an initial move to reopen the waterway, firing on a ship attempting to pass.
Confusion over the critical chokepoint has threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence that a new deal was within reach.
Shashwat Bhandari is the Associate Editor at Times Now. With 14 years of experience in the news and media industry, he understands the responsibility...View More
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