No Strait Answer: Iran shuts off Hormuz on US 'violation'

Washington | Islamabad | Cairo: The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz quickly escalated again on Saturday as Iran said it was tightening control, warning mariners that the energy lifeline was again closed in response to a continued US blockade of Iranian ports.

Tehran said the US was violating the ceasefire, while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran's navy was ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on its enemies. Iran's joint military command said "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state...under strict management and control of the armed forces."

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India summoned Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali to lodge a strong protest. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri conveyed deep concerns after multiple Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Strait following firing by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said people in the know. Misri noted the importance India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated safe passage.

A convoy of 14 India-bound ships carrying crude oil and gas were stopped by IRGC firing at two of them while they were transiting the Strait, leading to 13 returning, officials privy to the development said. At least four of those that turned back were Indian oil tankers or carriers.

An Indian-flagged ship, which was hit by bullets fired by IRGC without warning, was carrying crude oil. After sustaining damage, it returned. The extent of damage to the second vessel was not immediately known.

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However, another ship, which was India-flagged and loaded with crude oil for the Hindustan Petroleum, sailed through and is now heading towards India, the people cited said.

Confusion over the opening-closing threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push a renewed conflict.

Radio Messages

Revolutionary Guard gunboats on Saturday opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait and an unknown projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, said the British military’s UK Maritime Trade Operations centre, without identifying the vessels. Some merchant vessels got radio messages from Iran’s navy saying no ships were allowed through the waterway, maritime security and shipping personnel said, reversing signs earlier in the day that traffic might resume.

Earlier, maritime trackers had shown a convoy of eight tankers transiting the narrow passage in the first major movement of ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran began seven weeks ago.

Iran’s armed forces command said transit through the strait had reverted to a state of strict Iranian military control, citing what it described as repeated US violations and acts of “piracy” under the guise of a blockade.