Iranian Forces Involved in Two Incidents with Indian-Flagged Vessels

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) reported two separate incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

First Incident: Oil Tanker Approached and Fired Upon

The first incident involved an oil tanker and occurred approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the ship's master, two IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) gunboats approached the tanker, did not make radio contact, and then opened fire.

No damage was reported from this encounter and the crew was reported safe.

Second Incident: Container Ship Struck by Projectile

The second incident involved a container ship and took place about two hours later, roughly nine kilometers further north.

In this case, the shipping company's security officer reported to UKMTO that the ship was struck by an unknown projectile. The projectile caused damage to some cargo but did not result in fires or any environmental impact.

Background Note

UKMTO is a Dubai-based office run by the British naval reserve. It serves as a primary military point of contact for merchant ships operating in the Gulf region.