Iranian gunboats approach tanker in Hormuz

Two IRGC gunboats opened fire on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman without prior warning, according to a UK maritime alert.

Sources

5 verified

Location

Strait of Hormuz

Updated

Saturday, 18 April 2026 at 11:30 UTC

No media · text-only dispatch

Synthesis · 5 sources

Two vessels belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached a commercial tanker approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman and opened fire on it without issuing any prior VHF warning. The incident was reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which issued an alert for the Gulf of Oman. This is the latest in a series of aggressive actions by Iranian forces against merchant shipping in the region. The attack underscores the heightened volatility and risk to navigation in the critical waterways near the Strait of Hormuz.

Updates · 4

18 AprUkraine Watch

UKMTO confirms the tanker was fired upon and that the crew is safe.

18 AprОперация Z: Военкоры Русской Весны

The message adds the specific distance from the Omani coast (20 miles) and confirms the vessel and crew are safe.

18 AprКирилл Фёдоров / Война История Оружие

Reuters and UKMTO confirm the crew and vessel are safe following the attack.

18 AprFrente Militar y Geopolítico

UKMTO confirms the gunboats opened fire without issuing any prior VHF warning.

Prediction markets · Polymarket

Polymarket↗

Avg. # of ships transiting Strait of Hormuz end of April?

e/eineurope · topic · T-00703cycle Saturday, 18 April 2026 at 11:30 UTC · first reported 18 Apr