Iran Reimposes Hormuz Curbs; Firing Incident Involving Indian-flagged Vessels

Iran tightens Hormuz control, fires at ships; Indian vessels turn back as tensions disrupt oil flows and fragile ceasefire efforts falter.

Cover Image Attribute: The file photo of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN,نیروی دریایی سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی) gunboat in the Persian Gulf / Source: AFP

Iran announced on Saturday that it had reimposed tight military control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing the continued United States naval blockade of its ports as justification for reversing a temporary reopening of the vital waterway announced just a day earlier. The decision came amid reports of Iranian gunboats firing on merchant vessels attempting to transit the narrow passage, including two Indian-flagged tankers that were forced to turn back without sustaining damage or injuries to their crews. The developments underscored the fragility of fragile diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has disrupted global energy flows since late February. 
The strategic chokepoint, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes, had been effectively blocked by Iran since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, when US and Israeli forces struck Iranian targets. That initial closure had left hundreds of commercial ships stranded in the Persian Gulf, sharply curtailing production among Gulf oil and gas producers and sending shock waves through global energy markets. In recent weeks, the waterway's status became a central flashpoint in negotiations aimed at de-escalating the broader regional war, with Iran threatening attacks on tankers and warning of mines while the United States enforced a blockade line stretching across the Gulf of Oman to prevent vessels from reaching or departing Iranian ports. 
A breakthrough appeared possible on Friday following a US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which Iran had linked to easing restrictions on shipping. Iran's foreign minister declared the strait completely open for commercial vessels during the remainder of that ceasefire period, specifying passage along coordinated routes designated by Iranian authorities. The announcement prompted a brief flurry of activity, with maritime tracking data showing some tankers making initial attempts to cross and at least a limited number of Iran-linked ships successfully navigating the US blockade line in the preceding days. President Donald Trump hailed aspects of the development as positive while emphasizing that the American blockade would persist until a comprehensive deal was reached. He stated on social media that the naval blockade would remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete. Yet even as optimism flickered in some quarters, ship-tracking services indicated that very few vessels ultimately completed the transit, with many turning back amid conflicting signals and persistent uncertainties over safety.
Market reactions to the short-lived reopening reflected investor relief, as Brent crude oil futures plunged more than 9 percent to settle at $90.38 per barrel on Friday, its lowest level since early March. Stock indices in New York surged in response, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing nearly 869 points, or 1.79 percent, recouping recent losses tied to the conflict and signaling broader confidence that any sustained disruption might be contained. Analysts attributed the rally in part to the perception that ceasefires could pave the way for resumed oil flows, though they cautioned that underlying production capacity had already been affected and that full clarity on the strait's accessibility remained elusive. The buoyancy in equities extended to a notable rebound in technology shares, as traders weighed the potential for reduced energy price pressures to support corporate earnings amid an otherwise volatile period.
That momentum proved short-lived, however, as Iranian authorities reversed course on Saturday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that ongoing US actions amounted to acts of piracy and maritime theft, declaring that control of the strait had reverted to its previous tightly managed condition. The military body specified that until the US restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to their destinations and back, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and in its previous condition. Reports soon emerged of Iranian gunboats opening fire on at least one merchant vessel in the waterway, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirming that Iranian forces had targeted ships attempting to cross. The incidents occurred northeast of Oman in the critical shipping lane, just as more than a dozen commercial vessels had begun testing the passage following the prior day's announcement.
Among those affected were two Indian-flagged vessels, one of them a very large crude carrier designed for long-haul transport of oil. The ships, identified in some accounts as the Jag Arnav (IMO: 9705354) and Sanmar Herald (IMO: 9330563), came under fire but sustained no damage, with crews remaining safe before turning back from the area. Indian officials described the episode as a serious incident of firing on merchant ships, prompting swift diplomatic action in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Iran's ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, conveying India's deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz. During the meeting, the foreign secretary noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India. He urged the ambassador to convey India's views to authorities in Tehran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the strait. The ambassador undertook to relay those concerns. 
The summoning marked a notable escalation in India's engagement, coming days after the Iranian ambassador had assured New Delhi on April 13 that the strait would remain open specifically for Indian vessels despite broader warnings of economic consequences from the US blockade. Iran had even highlighted ongoing government-to-government contacts to ensure passage for ships bound for India, naming the country among a handful it considered friendly. Saturday's events, however, appeared to reflect internal inconsistencies within Iranian operations amid the fog of war, a situation that has also produced friendly fire incidents on the US side. By mid-morning on Saturday, at least eight oil and gas tankers had managed to cross before the reimposition of controls, but an equivalent number turned back after beginning to exit the Gulf, according to maritime observers.
The episode unfolded against a backdrop of broader international efforts to safeguard shipping routes once fighting subsides. Following a meeting involving representatives from dozens of countries, the United Kingdom and France announced they would lead a multinational mission to protect commercial navigation in the strait. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the initiative as strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance, emphasizing that it would only activate once regional hostilities ended and inviting all interested nations to contribute assets. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the call, noting the severe consequences the closure had imposed on the global economy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated his country's readiness to participate, while expressing hope for eventual US involvement. These plans came as maritime security experts highlighted ongoing risks, including the implicit threat of mines and the practice of vessels turning off identification systems to avoid targeting, which complicated verification of safe passage.
Compounding the energy market strains, the United States took steps to stabilize global oil supplies by renewing temporary waivers on purchases of Russian oil already loaded onto tankers. The move, which extended sanctions relief until May 16, replaced an earlier short-term pause that had expired earlier in the month and effectively allowed countries to continue buying seaborne Russian crude despite prior restrictions tied to the Ukraine conflict. For India, a major importer that sources around 90 percent of its crude requirements from abroad and relies on the Strait of Hormuz for roughly 40 percent of those imports, the waiver provided a critical buffer against potential shortages. Indian refiners had already ramped up Russian purchases in March, more than tripling the value of imports to €5.3 billion and doubling volumes compared with February, positioning the country as the second-largest buyer after China. The extension addressed immediate availability concerns exacerbated by the Hormuz disruptions and insurance challenges for Gulf shipments, though Russian crude prices had risen sharply to levels not seen since 2013, diminishing some of the discount benefits India had previously enjoyed. The waiver also aligned with a separate pause on Iranian oil purchases, offering refiners additional breathing room as they navigated the dual pressures of the regional conflict.
Uncertainty continued to define the situation, with maritime specialists noting contradictory information from all parties and a resulting deterrence for vessels. One analyst described ships attempting transit but many heading back because the situation is unclear, while reporting from Tehran characterized uncertainty as the name of the game amid Iran's demands for a comprehensive resolution encompassing security assurances, sanctions relief, unfrozen assets, regional relations, and its nuclear program. Conflicting statements from Iranian officials, including criticism of the initial reopening announcement as incomplete or void if the US blockade persisted, further muddied the waters. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that with the continuation of the blockade, the strait will not remain open. Trump, for his part, expressed confidence that a peace deal remained close, though he warned that failure to reach one soon could prompt resumption of hostilities and maintained that the blockade would force Iran toward negotiations.

With the temporary ceasefire in Lebanon set to reach its midpoint within days and the broader US-Iran truce faced expiration on April 22, the latest flare-up in the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the challenges of translating diplomatic pauses into sustained stability. Iran has insisted on no transfer of its enriched uranium stockpile under any circumstances, countering claims from the US side, while maritime groups sought further clarification from all parties to confirm risks for shipping under international law. With some vessels still broadcasting locations off the Indian coast or in Pakistani ports after crossing the blockade line, and others reversing course at the direction of American forces, the episode illustrated the complex interplay of enforcement, evasion, and economic necessity playing out in real time. Stakeholders across the region and beyond now await whether renewed talks, potentially involving third parties like Pakistan, can bridge the gaps before the fragile arrangements unravel further, as the global economy continues to absorb the ripple effects of restricted energy flows through one of its most critical arteries. 

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