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.
UKMTO WARNING 037-26
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) April 18, 2026
Click here to view the full Warning⤵️https://t.co/3Fxxl1HHUA#MaritimeSecurity #Marsec pic.twitter.com/SCG3TglveA
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.
“Sepah Navy! Motor Tanker Sanmar Herald! Sanmar Herald! Sepah Navy! You gave me clearance! You gave me clearance to go! Sepah Navy! Sepah Navy! This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go! My name second on your list! You gave me clearance to go! You are…
— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) April 18, 2026
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.
This playback of the last four hours in the Strait of Hormuz (16:00–20:00 UTC) shows roughly a dozen vessels, mainly cargo ships, approaching the crossing before turning around and heading back.
— Nikos Pothitakis (@nikospoth) April 17, 2026
Video via @MarineTraffic.#kpler #Hormuz pic.twitter.com/pr1kxvpNoT
Here is another example of the IRGC denying passage to the container ship Bhagya Laxmi.
Radio conversation between Cargo Ship "Bhagya Laxmi" & the Iranian Navy.
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) April 17, 2026
"There is no permission for you to cross the strait." https://t.co/7OCiMuvNG9 pic.twitter.com/MYY0OM9i1d
As if to underscore that it is the IRGC, not the Tehran government, that controls Hormuz, the Sepah Navy has broadcast this message.
IRGC issued a VHF broadcast which says the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, despite Iranian FM & US Presidents comments on the contrary.
— Martin Kelly (@_MartinKelly_) April 17, 2026
The Sepah Navy (IRGC Navy), said opening the Strait will be at the order of Khamenei and 'not some idiot'.
Ships wishing to pass the… pic.twitter.com/ucN6cbJGN5
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.
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