1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 23:30 IST
The incident comes days after a senior IRGC naval official warned that Iran could block the strait in the event of a US attack.
Oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz | File Image
A US-flagged oil tanker was confronted by Iranian gunboats while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech.
The incident occurred before the vessel was able to proceed safely through the strategic waterway.
Vanguard Tech said the tanker Stena Imperative was approached by six small armed boats operating in three pairs and linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The encounter took place about 16 nautical miles (roughly 30 kilometres) north of Oman as the ship navigated the strait.
According to the firm, the Iranian vessels contacted the tanker by radio and instructed its captain to shut down the engines and prepare for boarding.
The tanker instead increased speed, held its course and did not enter Iranian territorial waters. Vanguard Tech later confirmed that the vessel was being escorted by a US naval warship.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency had acknowledged the incident but did not identify the ship or the vessels involved.
Iranian state-linked news agency Fars offered a different account, claiming that a ship, without specifying its nationality, had unlawfully entered Iranian territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
It said Iranian naval units asked the vessel to present proper authorisation, warning it before it exited the area. “The vessel had no legal permission to be in these waters and left immediately after being warned," Fars reported.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has frequently been a flashpoint amid regional tensions.
The incident comes days after a senior IRGC naval official warned that Iran could block the strait in the event of a US attack, underscoring the growing volatility in the region.
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First Published:
February 03, 2026, 23:30 IST
News world Tensions Rise As Iranian Gunboats Confront US-Flagged Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz
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