Tehran, July 27 (V7N) – Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stopped six vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that they were navigating through the strategic waterway in an "illegal and unsafe" manner, according to Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu.
The incident occurred on Monday (July 27), with the vessels intercepted while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities did not immediately disclose the identities of the ships, the countries under whose flags they were sailing, or the nature of their cargo.
According to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, citing an informed source, the vessels attempted to use an unauthorized route in the southern section of the Strait of Hormuz rather than the designated navigation channel.
The source alleged that the ships' movements were intended to "provoke" US military forces operating in the area.
Iranian media also reported that an unspecified incident occurred involving one of the six vessels, while the remaining five were redirected toward waters in the Persian Gulf under Iranian control.
No further details were provided regarding the incident, and Iranian authorities did not release information about the ships' names, crews or nationalities.
The source emphasized that official navigation routes through the Strait of Hormuz are clearly marked and warned that using unauthorized channels could be dangerous and unsuitable for safe navigation.
The US military did not immediately comment on Iran's claims.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global crude oil and refined petroleum exports each day. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has the potential to affect international energy markets, particularly amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian authorities said the action was taken to prevent irregular maritime movement. However, the reported detention of the six vessels could not be independently verified.
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