At least two merchant vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, shortly after Iran reimposed strict military controls on the vital waterway, three maritime security and shipping sources said.
Earlier in the day, maritime trackers had recorded a convoy of eight tankers transiting the strait — the first significant movement of ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran began seven weeks ago.
But Iran’s armed forces command subsequently announced that transit through the waterway had reverted to full military control, citing what it described as repeated US violations and acts of “piracy” carried out under the guise of a port blockade.
An Iranian military spokesman said Tehran had earlier agreed, in good faith, to the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels following negotiations, but said continued US actions had forced the restoration of tighter controls on the strategic chokepoint. There was no immediate comment from Washington.
In a message posted on Telegram, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the Iranian navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies.
The strait was the conduit for roughly a fifth of global oil trade before the war. Iran had announced its temporary reopening following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon agreed on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump said earlier on Friday there had been “some pretty good news” about Iran, without elaborating, but warned that fighting could resume if a peace deal was not reached before the two-week ceasefire expires on Wednesday.
(Reuters)
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