Iranian boats fire on vessels in Hormuz as Tehran closes strait again: Reports

MUSCAT – 18 April 2026: At least two commercial vessels were forced to turn back in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after Iranian boats opened fire, according to shipping and maritime security sources cited by Reuters.

Britain’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired on a tanker transiting the strategic waterway.

The vessel and its crew were reported safe, though no further details were disclosed.

The incidents came hours after Iran announced it is closing the strait for shipping traffic again, in response to a US blockade targeting Iranian shipping and ports.

Tehran has largely controlled access to the strait throughout the war, which started on 28 February and is currently paused by a ceasefire that expires on 21 April, allowing passage only for vessels it authorizes.

The renewed restrictions mark a reversal from a day earlier, when Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait would remain open following a 10-day truce announced between Israel and Lebanon.