At least two merchant vessels reported coming under gunfire while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to three maritime security and shipping sources. The incident occurred shortly after Iran announced it was once again tightening control over the key waterway.
Earlier, maritime tracking data indicated that a convoy of eight tankers had begun transiting the strait, marking the first significant movement of ships since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran escalated seven weeks ago.
However, Iran later announced that it was reinstating strict military control over the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial route that, before the conflict, handled around a fifth of global oil trade – as the United States continued its blockade of Iranian ports.
In a defiant message shared on his Telegram channel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the country’s navy was prepared to deliver “new bitter defeats” to its adversaries.
Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump mentioned there was “some pretty good news” regarding Iran but declined to provide further details. He also warned that hostilities could resume by Wednesday – when a two-week ceasefire is set to end – if no peace agreement is reached.
Iran had previously announced a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday.
However, on Saturday, Iran’s armed forces command stated that transit through the strait had once again been placed under strict military control. The move was attributed to what Iran described as repeated US violations and acts of “piracy” carried out under the pretext of a blockade.
A spokesperson said Iran had initially allowed the controlled passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships “in good faith” following negotiations, but ongoing US actions had compelled Tehran to tighten its grip on shipping through the crucial maritime corridor.
There was no immediate response from the United States.