Iranian Regime Gunboat Fires on Container Ship near Oman Coast

22/04/2026

MuSCAT, Apr 22: A container ship came under attack from an Iranian gunboat northeast of Oman, sustaining heavy damage to its bridge, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Wednesday. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) opened fire on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the vessel and further escalating regional tensions following the collapse of planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident occurred at around 7:55 a.m. local time, when a vessel was approached by an IRGC gunboat and came under fire without any prior radio warning or challenge.

UKMTO confirmed that the ship sustained damage but reported no injuries among the crew and no environmental impact.

Iranian semi-official news agencies Fars and Tasnim, both considered close to the IRGC, also reported the incident, citing UKMTO. Fars described the operation as Iran “lawfully enforcing” its authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key global shipping route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil trade passes, despite being located within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman. It is widely regarded by international shipping as an international maritime passage.

The incident comes amid a series of maritime tensions in the region, including recent U.S. military actions involving Iranian-linked vessels in the Indian Ocean, further heightening concerns over security in critical shipping lanes.

Meanwhile, Nour News, a website linked to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps opened fire on the container ship after it allegedly “ignored warnings” from Iranian armed forces, adding that the vessel sustained “extensive damage.”

The incident comes amid heightened tensions following a recent conflict in which the United States targeted Iran’s naval capabilities, sinking or damaging multiple vessels. However, the Guard is believed to retain a fleet of small, fast-attack boats—typically equipped with mounted machine guns and capable of conducting operations such as maritime mining.

IRGC vowed to deliver “crushing blows beyond the enemy’s imagination” against remaining assets in the region, saying it remains at peak readiness and prepared to respond immediately to any renewed threat or aggression.