19 Ships Intercepted by Iran in Strait of Hormuz Over Two Days

TEHRAN, Sept 27: Iranian forces intercepted 19 ships that attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz using routes not approved by Tehran over the past two days, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported Sunday, citing military sources.

Fars did not identify the vessels or provide details about their flags, cargoes or destinations. It also did not specify what action Iranian forces took after intercepting the ships or whether any vessels were detained. A separate report citing Fars said 12 vessels were targeted on Friday and seven on Saturday, with the agency publishing video footage showing a vessel on fire.

The announcement comes amid diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route that has faced severe disruption since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran in February. Tehran has maintained that ships must follow routes and procedures designated by Iranian authorities. Iran's Revolutionary Guard also said Sunday that it had seized a US underwater drone in the strait and warned against unauthorized transit.