Merchant ships were sent scrambling to retreat after Iran fired on multiple vessels on Saturday morning, part of its sudden decision to re-close the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced Friday evening that the strait was closed, despite an earlier announcement from President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Iran was allowing ships to pass. Ghalibaf said the reinstatement of the blockade was in response to Trump’s “false” claims on Friday.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported two cases: an oil tanker that was approached, then fired upon by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats, and a container ship that was hit by an “unknown projectile” that damaged several containers and caused a fire. The latter attack was almost certainly from an Iranian drone, Tehran’s primary method of projecting force within the strait.
The gunboat attack targeted an Indian vessel. TankerTrackers.com obtained the audio recording of the ship’s pleas with the Guards Navy, referred to as the “Sepah Navy” not to fire.
“Sepah Navy!” the recording said. “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 firing now! Let me turn back!”
The two attacks were accompanied by a new radio message sent out to all vessels in and around the strait.
“Attention all ships, regarding the failure of the U.S. government to fulfill its commitment in the negotiation, Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz completely closed again,” the radio message said, according to Reuters. “No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Maritime trackers observed over 20 vessels suddenly making a U-turn away from the strait, after being assured earlier on Friday by Washington and Tehran that the waterway was fully open.
Araghchi had announced the full opening of the Strait on Friday. Guards-linked news channels quickly began publicly attacking the foreign minister, especially after Trump confirmed the U.S. blockade was still in effect.
IRAN’S HORMUZ BLOCKADE RESTARTED OVER FRUSTRATION WITH TRUMP’S PUBLIC COMMENTS
The contradictory messaging from Tehran and the Guards further illustrates the breakdown in trust and communications between the two and shows that true power lies with the Guards.
The sudden closing and attacks on shipping greatly reduce the chances that the two-week ceasefire, due to expire on Tuesday, will lead to a lasting peace deal.