Three container ships have come under fire in the Strait of Hormuz within hours of Donald Trump announcing an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire, raising immediate questions about Tehran’s intentions and the fragility of the truce.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the attacks on Wednesday, with maritime security sources providing further detail on each of the three incidents. The most serious involved a Liberia-flagged container ship operating northeast of Oman, which sustained damage to its bridge after being struck by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. The master of the Greek-operated vessel reported that an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboat carrying three personnel had approached the ship before opening fire without making any prior radio contact. The crew had reportedly been told the ship had permission to transit the strait before the attack occurred. All crew members were confirmed safe, with no fire breaking out and no environmental damage reported.
A second vessel, a Panama-flagged container ship, was subsequently fired upon approximately eight nautical miles west of Iran. That ship escaped without damage and its crew remained unharmed. A third incident involved another Liberia-flagged vessel transiting outbound through the strait, also around eight nautical miles west of Iran. That ship was undamaged but came to a stop in the water following the attack. Its crew were reported to be safe.
The incidents unfolded on the same day Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of Pakistani military and civilian leaders, who urged Washington to hold off while Tehran worked toward a unified negotiating position. Iran’s government had publicly stated it had no plans for further negotiations, while describing the US naval blockade of the strait — imposed after Tehran refused to suspend its nuclear programme — as an illegal act of aggression.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically vital shipping lanes, through which approximately one fifth of global oil trade passes. Wednesday’s attacks will intensify concern among shipping companies and insurers already navigating an increasingly dangerous waterway, and are likely to complicate diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting settlement between Washington and Tehran before the extended ceasefire runs its course.
No group has formally claimed responsibility for the attacks, and neither the Iranian government nor the IRGC had issued a public statement at the time of publication.
