British authority reports Iran fires at freighters in the Strait of Hormuz
A container ship has come under fire in the Strait of Hormuz and been severely damaged.
22.04.2026, 10:37
22.04.2026, 11:26
SDA
A ship belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) approached the vessel and fired shots, according to the British Merchant Shipping Safety Office (UKMTO), citing the captain of the freighter.
The Iranian news portal Nur-News, which is close to the National Security Council, confirmed the incident. A container ship that had ignored warnings from the Iranian armed forces had been fired upon and suffered considerable damage, it said.
UKMTO: "Increased activity" in the Strait of Hormuz
According to the UKMTO, the incident occurred 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. All crew members are reportedly safe. "The captain of a container ship reported that an IRGC speedboat had approached the vessel," the statement said. In the end, the crew of the Iranian boat opened fire without radio warning, causing serious damage to the bridge.
A short time later, the UKMTO reported another incident. According to the captain, an outbound freighter was fired upon eight nautical miles west of Iran and is now lying stopped in the water. The crew is safe and there are no reports of damage. The authorities are aware of the increased activity in the area of the Strait of Hormuz and are asking ships to report any suspicious activity, it said.
Such incidents occur time and again in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, which is under attack from the USA and Israel, has brought shipping through the important strait to a virtual standstill with attacks and threats. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged even after US President Donald Trump announced an extension to the ceasefire.
