Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has intercepted and turned back two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, citing a fire on one of the vessels as the immediate cause.
The military unit stated that the ships were operating with US support, marking another direct confrontation between Iranian forces and commercial shipping in the critical waterway.
The development highlights the ongoing volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly a fifth of global oil consumption.
Any disruption to transit through the narrow channel poses immediate risks to global energy supplies and freight rates.
The IRGC's action follows a pattern of increased assertiveness, with the group previously claiming unilateral authority over shipping in the strait and warning Gulf neighbors against aligning with the United States.
This incident adds to a broader backdrop of shipping disruptions affecting global trade routes.