Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A tanker turned back after being threatened by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, a British maritime agency reported.
Iran has sought to assert control over the vital shipping route since the start of its war with the United States and Israel.
It has repeatedly targeted vessels it accuses of transiting without authorisation, while the US is maintaining a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
“A tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz inbound was hailed by the IRGC and instructed to turn back or the vessel would be targeted,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said, referring to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the country’s military.
“The master of the tanker has confirmed that they have complied with the instruction,” the UKMTO said.
The ship was entering the strait near the Omani coastline, the agency added.
Hormuz, through which about one fifth of the world’s oil and gas transited before the war, remains a key sticking point in negotiations between Iran and the US to end their conflict.
While Iran’s attacks on ships have continued, the US has not launched strikes on Iran since September 1.
saa/axn/ser
