The British Maritime Monitoring Agency said that a bulk carrier sailing near the Iranian coast in the Strait of Hormuz area was attacked by several small boats. In a brief statement issued on Sunday, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said all crew members on board the unidentified vessel were “reported safe” after the incident, which occurred 11 nautical miles (20 km) west of Sirik, Iran.
The agency also confirmed that “no environmental impact has been reported.” The incident site, Sirik, is located on the Iranian side of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that has been at the heart of the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.Since the war began on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint as Iran has tightened its grip on the region, disrupting the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer shipments through the passage and sending global prices soaring.
According to Al Jazeera, the United States imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports starting April 13, shortly after the fragile ceasefire took effect.US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday that 49 ships trying to enter or exit Iranian ports have now been redirected under the blockade. “As of today, 49 commercial vessels have been redirected to comply with the blockade. US forces remain fully committed to full enforcement,” US Central Command said in a social media post.
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin directing ships through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday. US Central Command said the operation would include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 troops, although a US official clarified that the initiative was not an escort mission.This announcement was met with a sharp reaction from Tehran. Ibrahim Azizi, a senior Iranian official and head of parliament’s National Security Committee, warned that any US intervention would violate the ceasefire.
He said in a blog post on the X website: “Any American intervention in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.”He added: “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf will not be managed by Trump’s delusional positions!”His remarks highlight growing tensions over the US role in maritime traffic through the checkpoint, where prolonged disruption has left thousands of sailors stranded on ships.Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, Donald Trump said US representatives are “having very positive discussions” with Iran as the two sides continue to exchange peace proposals. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it is currently reviewing the American response to Tehran’s latest proposal.
