Gunfire from Iranian forces struck at least two merchant ships attempting passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as Tehran’s new Supreme Leader issued stark warnings about inflicting “new bitter defeats” on adversaries, prompting a convoy to scatter and retreat.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s bellicose message via Telegram declared Iran’s navy prepared to deliver fresh humiliation to enemies, hours after Donald Trump warned he may have to “start dropping bombs again” if fragile ceasefire negotiations collapse.
Shipping and security sources confirmed to Reuters that multiple vessels reported being hit by gunfire whilst attempting transit through the narrow waterway, though damage assessments remained incomplete as ships dispersed following what had been the first significant maritime movement since hostilities commenced.
The violence followed Iran’s abrupt reimposition of strait closure just hours after declaring the passage “completely open” on Friday—a reversal Tehran justified by citing Washington’s refusal to abandon its retaliatory naval blockade of Iranian ports.
State broadcaster IRIB quoted Iran’s Central Military Headquarters stating the waterway had returned to restricted status because the US “did not fulfil its obligations,” with passage now requiring Iranian authorisation.
The brief Friday reopening, which saw eight oil tankers successfully traverse the strait according to vessel tracking data, had temporarily lifted global markets and softened petroleum prices before Tehran’s dramatic policy reversal and subsequent use of force.
US Central Command reported directing 21 vessels to reverse course since implementing its Iranian port blockade this week, posting images of American guided-missile destroyers patrolling Arabian Sea waters whilst enforcing the containment measures.
Trump on Saturday dismissed British and French plans to deploy a joint naval taskforce for strait security, characterising European NATO allies as “useless when needed, a paper tiger” after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday they would send warships to protect the critical shipping route.
The US president told News Nation he remained uncertain about extending the ceasefire beyond Wednesday’s expiration whilst maintaining the Iranian blockade regardless. “Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain,” he stated aboard Air Force One.
Despite the maritime confrontation, Trump expressed optimism about finalising an agreement, telling AFP there were “no sticking points at all” remaining with Tehran and suggesting he might travel to Pakistan to sign any accord—though he contradicted earlier Iranian statements by claiming Tehran had agreed to surrender enriched uranium stockpiles.
