Britain’s Maritime Monitoring Agency said a bulk carrier sailing near the Iranian coast in the Strait of Hormuz area was attacked by multiple small vessels. The UK Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) said in a brief statement on Sunday that the incident occurred 11 nautical miles (20 kilometers) west of Sirik, Iran, and that all crew members on board the unidentified vessel “reported safe.”The agency also confirmed that “no environmental impacts were reported.” Sirik, where the incident occurred, is located on the Iranian side of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that has been at the center of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint as Iran has tightened its control over the region since the war broke out on February 28, disrupting the shipment of oil, natural gas and fertilizer through the strait and pushing up global prices. According to Al Jazeera, the United States imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports starting on April 13, shortly after the fragile ceasefire came into effect.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday that 49 ships trying to enter and exit Iranian ports have now been rerouted under the blockade. “As of today, 49 commercial vessels have been redirected to comply with the blockade. U.S. forces remain fully committed to full enforcement,” Central Command said in a social media post.In another development, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. U.S. Central Command said the operation would involve guided missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 troops, although a U.S. official clarified that the operation was not an escort mission.The news sparked a strong reaction from Tehran. Senior Iranian official Ibrahim Aziz, chairman of the parliament’s national security committee, warned that any U.S. intervention would violate the ceasefire agreement. He posted on X: “Any interference by the United States in the new maritime regime in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire agreement.”He further said, “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf will not be governed by Trump’s delusional posts!”His comments underscore the growing tension over the U.S.’s role in maritime shipping through the chokepoint, where prolonged disruption has left thousands of sailors stranded on ships.Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, Donald Trump said U.S. representatives were having “very active discussions” with Iran and the two sides continued to exchange peace proposals. Iran’s foreign ministry said it was currently reviewing the U.S. response to Tehran’s latest proposal.
