Ships Attacked as Iran Reimposes Control of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had reimposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz and declared the waterway closed until the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports is lifted. The closure came after radio messages told merchant ships to remain at anchorage and after gunboats fired on vessels attempting to transit. The move revived a period of near-standstill traffic in one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

Two ships were hit as they tried to pass, and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center recorded a container vessel struck by an unknown projectile roughly 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman, with some containers damaged. Captains described being approached and, in at least one case, fired upon by IRGC fast boats, while states like India have expressed deep concern about attacks on Indian-flagged vessels. Naval sources also noted that some merchant ships turned back or waited for escort.

The United States has maintained a blockade aimed at restricting Iranian maritime traffic and Iranian officials framed the closure as a response to what they called violations of the ceasefire, a claim that has complicated prospects for renewed negotiations. Shipping companies have increasingly rerouted vessels or delayed sailings, and insurers have raised premiums; as a consequence, freight costs and energy markets have been volatile. Since the strait handles a substantial share of global oil shipments, traders are monitoring capacity shifts closely.

While direct casualties have been limited in recent incidents, the risk to crew safety and to commercial supply chains remains acute, and the situation is likely to keep regional traffic constrained until clearer arrangements are negotiated or a ceasefire change occurs.