Hours after US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces opened fire on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, escalating tensions in a region already under strain. The incident comes at a time when expected ceasefire talks in Pakistan have failed to take place.
The firing damaged the vessel but did not cause injuries or environmental harm, according to early reports. However, it’s not clear as to the vessel belonged to which country. This comes as the US Navy continues to block the Strait of Hormuz amid stalled talks.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the attack occurred at around 7:55 a.m. in the busy shipping lane. A gunboat linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly opened fire without issuing any prior warning or communication to the ship.
The targeted vessel was a container ship moving through the strait, a key route for global oil and trade shipments. Despite the gunfire, no crew members were injured and there was no reported spill or environmental damage.
Iran did not immediately confirm or respond to the reports of the attack. The absence of an official statement has added to uncertainty around the incident, even as tensions continue to rise in the region.
The lack of acknowledgement also comes amid growing scrutiny over recent actions involving shipping and naval forces in nearby waters.
The firing follows a series of confrontations at sea. Over the past weekend, the United States seized an Iranian container ship after opening fire on it. In a separate move, US forces also boarded an oil tanker linked to Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean.
The incident comes as planned ceasefire discussions in Pakistan failed to materialise. The absence of talks has left a gap in diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the involved sides.
Source: News18