QIR patrol boats fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz
18 April 21:15
Military vessels of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday, April 18, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to the report, the incident occurred 20 nautical miles (37 km) northeast of the coast of Oman. According to the tanker’s captain, two IRGC boats approached the vessel and opened fire on it without any warning via VHF radio.
The tanker and its crew, according to the UKMTO, were unharmed. “Authorities are investigating,” the press release states.
Report of an attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz
Shortly after the report of the IRGC’s attack on the tanker, the British center also reported an attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. It is stated that the incident occurred 25 nautical miles (46 km) northeast of the coast of Oman.
“According to the report, the container ship was struck by an unknown projectile, resulting in damage to several containers; no fires or environmental damage were reported. Authorities are investigating,” the UKMTO writes.
Iran announced the return of the Strait of Hormuz to its “control”
Earlier that day, the Iranian armed forces announced the return of the Strait of Hormuz to their “strict control” until the United States restores freedom of movement for all vessels entering Iran.
Thus, Tehran revoked the decision to open the strait to shipping, which had been made the day before, on April 17. That day, Iranian authorities announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels for the duration of the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite radical group Hezbollah. The ceasefire was set for 10 days and took effect at midnight on April 17.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the Islamic Republic’s decision to open the Strait of Hormuz, but emphasized that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the strait would continue until a peace agreement with Iran is reached.
Escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah
The armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in late February. Since early March, the radical Shiite movement has resumed rocket attacks on Israel—in response to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a result of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli Air Force responded to the rocket fire from Lebanon with massive airstrikes.
Iranian authorities began blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil exports pass, following the start of the U.S. and Israeli military operation against the Islamic Republic. As a result, global oil prices rose sharply. In response, the U.S. announced a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
