Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after Tehran reimposed transit restrictions, reversing a brief opening declared just a day earlier.
The incident occurred about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, where two IRGC gunboats approached a vessel and opened fire unprovoked, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization. The tanker and its crew were reported safe, though the ship was forced to turn back.
Iran announced the closure in response to a continued U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports, which Washington says will remain in full force until a broader deal is reached, including on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran’s joint military command stated control of the strait had returned to its previous state under armed forces management, warning it would block transit as long as the U.S. Blockade persists.
The move came amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which had prompted Iran’s foreign minister to declare the strait open for commercial vessels during the truce period. That declaration drew sharp criticism from Iranian hardliners and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who accused U.S. President Donald Trump of making false claims about progress in negotiations.
Ghalibaf reiterated that the strait would not remain open as long as the U.S. Blockade continues, echoing statements from Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman that transit rules are determined on the ground, not through social media announcements. The conflicting signals highlighted internal divisions within Iran’s leadership over how to manage the waterway amid diplomatic pressures.
For more on this story, see Iran Threatens Gulf Trade as US Blocks Strait of Hormuz.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical leverage point for Iran, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically passes. The United States has deployed forces and initiated a port blockade as part of efforts to pressure Iran into accepting a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire to end the seven-week conflict involving Israel, the U.S., and Iran.
Even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach, the sudden reversal over the strait underscored how quickly tensions could reignite, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the two countries toward renewed confrontation.
Why did Iran reverse its decision to open the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran said it reimposed restrictions because the U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports remained in effect, which Tehran views as a violation of any understanding to reopen the waterway.
Was anyone injured in the tanker attack?
No, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization confirmed the tanker and its crew were safe following the incident.
How much global oil typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz?
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically transits the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy markets.
