Iranian forces prevent tanker from entering Strait of Hormuz without coordination: Report

Iranian forces prevented a tanker from transiting the Strait of Hormuz without coordination, state media reported early on Friday.

Iranian media earlier reported sounds of explosions near Bandar Abbas, but state news ‌agency IRNA ⁠later ⁠said no explosions had been reported in the port ​city and that any sounds could have been related to ​military activity in maritime areas. Iran's top joint military command announced on Thursday the closure of the ​Strait of Hormuz, including oil ⁠tankers and commercial ‌ships, saying any vessel that ​will ​attempt passage will be shot at.

Iranian media ⁠also reported explosion sounds off the ​coast of Sirik.


A military source told state ​media that the sounds heard near Sirik were linked to Iranian forces confronting an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker later complied with the ‌ban on transit after receiving warnings from the IRGC Navy, the source said.

President ​Donald Trump ​on Thursday ⁠said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that ​would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement.