The IRGC says the aggression got here in response to what it described because the US seizure of an Iranian industrial vessel.
Revealed On 22 Apr 2026
An Iranian gunboat has fired on a container vessel close to the coast of Oman, in response to a British maritime monitoring company, in an incident that occurred hours after United States President Donald Trump stated he would prolong a ceasefire with Iran.
The UK Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO) centre stated on Wednesday that the ship’s captain reported that the vessel had been approached by a vessel of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier than photographs had been fired.
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It “has prompted heavy injury to the bridge. No fires or environmental influence reported,” the company added. No casualties had been reported, and all crew members had been stated to be secure.
British maritime safety agency Vanguard Tech stated the ship was crusing below a Liberian flag and had been knowledgeable it had permission to move via the Strait of Hormuz, one of many world’s most strategically essential waterways.
Iranian information company Tasnim, nevertheless, stated the vessel had ignored warnings issued by Iran’s armed forces.
The incident adopted a warning from the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters after what it described because the US seizure of an Iranian industrial ship within the Sea of Oman, the IRNA information company reported.
It accused Washington of violating the ceasefire and finishing up “armed piracy” after allegedly firing on the Iranian vessel and disabling its navigation techniques.
Trump extends ceasefire
Trump earlier introduced he would delay a deliberate navy assault on Iran after requests from Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Writing on Fact Social, Trump stated the choice was made as a result of Iran’s authorities was “severely fractured” and wanted time to current a unified place.
“Now we have been requested to carry our Assault on the Nation of Iran till such time as their leaders and representatives can provide you with a unified proposal,” he wrote.
He added, nevertheless, that the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would stay in place and stated the navy had been ordered to remain “prepared and in a position”.
The announcement marked a shift from feedback made a day earlier, when Trump stated it was “extremely unlikely” he would prolong the truce past Tuesday.
‘Constructive and destructive alerts’ from Tehran
Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, stated Iranian officers had been sending blended messages over the ceasefire and the prospects for negotiations.
“Tehran is saying they received’t negotiate below imposed phrases and circumstances … once we evaluate the preliminary 10-point and 15-point proposals by the Iranians and Individuals, we are able to perceive that the 2 sides are poles aside,” he stated.
“The ambiance can also be clouded by this distrust in Tehran in the direction of the US, in addition to the simultaneous navy rhetoric associated to a possible failed negotiation … It’s a warning that one other spherical of confrontation could also be forward.”
He stated Iran nonetheless considered the Strait of Hormuz as a key supply of leverage in any talks.
“It’s making an attempt to train authority over the ships and vessels transiting this strategically vital chokepoint,” he stated.
Asadi added that Iranian officers framed their regional place as based mostly on mutual safety. “Iranians are saying that the premise of their international coverage behaviour, notably relating to Israel, is safety for all versus safety for none,” he stated.
