Two Ships Fired Upon by Iran While Crossing the Strait of Hormuz, All Crew Members Safe

Two ships were hit by gunfire while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The identities of the ships that were fired upon have not yet been identified.

According to Reuters on Saturday (18/4/2026), commercial ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz received radio messages from the Iranian navy informing them that they were not permitted to pass. Several commercial ships that tried to traverse the strait had previously received notifications from sailors a day earlier that the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed to open but with restrictions.

At least two ships reported that Iranian vessels opened fire, sources in shipping and maritime security told Reuters. The incident was reported to have occurred in waters between Qeshm Island and Larak Island.

The ships turned back without completing the crossing, the sources said. The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) stated that it had received reports of the incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.

The captain of a tanker said that his vessel was approached by two warships from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which fired upon the ship. The tanker and its crew emerged unharmed. A container ship was also hit by gunfire, according to maritime security sources.

Several ships reported that the Iranian navy had broadcast VHF messages stating that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed again.

“Attention all ships, due to the US government’s failure to fulfil its commitments in negotiations, Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz fully closed again. No ships of any type or nationality are permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” read the radio message.

Hundreds of ships and around 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Gulf. They are waiting to pass through the vital waterway, which handles about 20% of the global flow of oil and liquefied natural gas.