Iranian Navy Fires On Two Vessels in Strait of Hormuz Demonstrating That Waterway Is Not Open

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By Streiff

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy ships fired on two Indian ships attempting to exit the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. This action underscores the fact that opening the Strait of Hormuz is more of an aspiration than a reality. According to the master of an Indian vessel believed to be a VLCC supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil, two IRGC gunboats approached the tanker and opened fire. The tanker then retreated westward back into the Persian Gulf. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported the incident. The UKMTO is a Royal Navy-sponsored organization that serves as the primary point of contact for merchant vessels on maritime security matters.

UKMTO has received a report of an incident 20NM northeast of OMAN. The Master of a Tanker reports being approached by 2 IRGC gun boats, no VHF challenge that then fired upon the tanker. 

Tanker and crew are reported safe. 

Authorities are investigating. 

As you can see from the location of the attack, the targeted vessel was deep into the Strait of Hormuz but hugging the Omani coastline instead of following the Iranian-dictated route closer to Iran.

No one was injured, and the attacks came within hours of the Speaker of Iran's Parliament declaring that the Strait of Hormuz was again closed because President Trump violated the agreement in place; see Iranian Official Says Strait of Hormuz Is Closed Again Because Trump Violated the Deal – RedState.

The master of the VLCC tanker Sanmar Herald was recorded begging the IRGC Navy to let it proceed. The Sepah Navy Special Force is the part of the IRGC Navy that allegedly has special-forces capabilities and specializes in maritime visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations.

What is notable is that the master acknowledges having permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz, something that wouldn't be necessary if it were open. The Iranian announcement that the Strait was again closed was followed by a stream of vessels turning around to avoid transiting it.

Here is another example of the IRGC denying passage to the container ship Bhagya Laxmi.
As if to underscore that it is the IRGC, not the Tehran government, that controls Hormuz, the Sepah Navy has broadcast this message.

Transcript of the X video (VHF radio broadcast audio) provided by Grok:

[00:00–00:02] In Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, [00:02–00:06] this is Iranian Sepah Navy calling you on channel 16.

[00:06–00:09] The Strait of Hormuz is still closed.

[00:09–00:14] We will open it by the order of our leader Imam Khamenei, 

[00:14–00:16] not by the tweets of some idiots. [emphasis added]

[00:17–00:19] If you want to pass through the strait,

[00:19–00:23] you must ask permission from Iranian Sepah Navy.

[00:24–00:28] All vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be

[00:28–00:32] targeted if they try to pass the Strait of Hormuz out.

"Tweets of some idiots." Indeed.

Original Here

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