IRGC Fires Warning Shots at Two Vessels in Strait of Hormuz Amid Heightened Maritime Tensions

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly fired warning shots at two vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without authorization over the past 24 hours. According to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, nine of the eleven ships that passed through the strategic waterway on Tuesday chose a route close to Iranian territorial waters, with most transporting crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied gas, methanol, and iron ore linked to Iran’s maritime trade.

Kpler said the majority of commercial vessels using the Strait of Hormuz are now following the route designated by Tehran. The reported warning shots come as Iran continues to strengthen its oversight of maritime traffic through the waterway, one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors.

The developments follow a statement by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which said more than 200 non-Iranian vessels have coordinated with the authority to transit the strait in the three weeks since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington. The reported incidents come amid heightened regional tensions and Iranian allegations of repeated US violations of the June 17 agreement.