Iranian forces attacked two commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday morning within three hours of each other, according to back-to-back reports from the UK Maritime Trade Operations authority — the latest escalation in a maritime campaign that has now logged at least 23 confirmed attacks since February 28.
UKMTO Report 041-26, issued at 0355 UTC, states the master of a container ship reported being approached by one IRGC gunboat 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman with no VHF challenge before it opened fire. The bridge sustained heavy damage. No fires or environmental impact were reported, and all crew members were confirmed safe.
Less than three hours later, UKMTO Report 043-26, issued at 0638 UTC, reported a second incident 8 nautical miles west of Iran. The master of an outbound cargo ship reported being fired upon and is now stopped in the water. No damage to the vessel was reported and crew were confirmed safe and accounted for. The source is listed as the company security officer rather than the master, suggesting the vessel may have been unable to communicate directly. UKMTO noted it “is aware of high levels of activity in the SoH area” — language that suggests additional incidents may be occurring beyond what has been formally reported.
Iran’s Nour News, affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, confirmed the IRGC fired on the first vessel but said the ship had ignored Iranian warnings before it was targeted — directly contradicting the master’s account of receiving no radio challenge.
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The IRGC issued a statement on Wednesday vowing to “deliver crushing blows beyond the enemy’s imagination to its remaining assets in the region,” declaring it remains “at peak readiness and determination to continue the fight.” Neither vessel has been publicly identified.
Both attacks occurred on the same day President Donald Trump extended the Iran ceasefire indefinitely, citing the need for Tehran to submit a “unified proposal.” Iran has not confirmed it will attend a second round of talks in Islamabad.
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called an “act of war” and a ceasefire violation.
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