Gunboats Open Fire on Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz: UKMTO

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz intensified Saturday after Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats reportedly opened fire on an oil vessel transiting one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

In a statement, the organization confirmed it had received a direct report from the vessel’s captain, who said two Iranian military boats approached the tanker approximately 30 nautical miles off the coast of Oman before shots were fired.

An Indian-flagged VLCC supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil has reportedly been forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz following reports of naval firing

...so Iran is now openly acting against India pic.twitter.com/70jISOxTAF

— распад и неуважение (@VictorKvert2008) April 18, 2026

According to the account, no prior radio warning was issued before the incident. Despite the escalation, the organization added that the vessel and its crew remain safe, and no injuries or major damage have been reported.

"Audio recordings indicate that two Indian vessels were also forced back out of the strait following the gunfire. One of those ships was an Indian-flagged VLCC supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil, according to an X account that tracks maritime travels," NY Post said.

The attack comes amid a sharp deterioration in maritime security conditions in the region. Iran has recently reinstated strict controls on shipping attempting to pass through the Strait, in response to renewed U.S. pressure on its maritime and port activities.

The crisis follows statements by Donald Trump indicating that American restrictions targeting Iranian-linked maritime traffic will remain in place, further inflaming an already volatile situation.

In response, the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps signaled a hardline stance, warning that as long as Iranian shipping routes face disruption, conditions in the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged.

The latest incident underscores growing risks to global energy flows and global trade, as the narrow waterway, through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply passes, becomes an increasingly contested arena.

Maritime security observers warn that further escalation could have far-reaching implications, not only for regional stability but also for global shipping lanes already under strain from geopolitical tensions.