Tensions Rise in Strait of Hormuz: Indian Vessels Turn Back Amid Gunfire

Two Indian vessels reversed course in the Strait of Hormuz due to gunfire by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The ships included a super tanker carrying Iraqi oil. The UK reported an attack but confirmed the crew's safety. Iran cited US blockade as the reason for restricting the strait.

Two Indian vessels have reversed their course in the Strait of Hormuz after reports of gunfire from Iran's Revolutionary Guard surfaced. This information was confirmed by a vessel-tracking service, TankerTrackers.com, which highlighted that one of the vessels is an Indian-flagged super tanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.

The incident follows an earlier statement from the British military, which reported that two gunboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard had fired upon a tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. This action came after Iran announced it had reimposed restrictions on the crucial waterway, citing a response to a US blockade on Iranian shipping and ports.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre noted that the tanker and its crew were safe, though it withheld further identification details. Iran has continued to manage the passage of vessels through the strait, selectively allowing only those it authorizes during the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

(With inputs from agencies.)