A British maritime security agency reported that Iranian gunboats opened fire on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, following Iran’s reported reversal of its earlier pledge to open the route to commercial shipping.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre, the tanker’s captain reported being approached about 37 kilometres (23 miles) northeast of Oman by two fast boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The centre said the crew received no radio warning before the vessels “then fired upon the tanker,” according to its online statement.
“Tanker and crew are reported safe. Authorities are investigating.”
