Iranian gunboats fire on Indian-flagged ships in Strait of Hormuz

April 18, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Two Indian-flagged vessels were reportedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, triggering heightened maritime security concerns in the region.

According to an official statement released late Saturday, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi was summoned by India’s Ministry of External Affairs for urgent consultations with the Foreign Secretary. The démarche followed reports that at least two Indian-flagged merchant ships came under fire earlier in the day while transiting waters between Qeshm Island and Larak Island.

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During the meeting, India conveyed its “deep concern” over what it described as a serious incident involving the firing on civilian vessels. The Foreign Secretary underscored the critical importance New Delhi places on the safety and security of merchant shipping and seafarers, particularly in high-risk maritime zones such as the Persian Gulf.

No casualties or confirmed damage have been reported.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning (037-26) reporting that a tanker operating approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman was approached by two gunboats identified as belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the vessel’s master, the boats did not issue any radio challenge before opening fire. The tanker and its crew were reported safe, and authorities are investigating the incident.

In another alert (038-26), UKMTO said it had received a report from a company security officer that a container ship approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman had been struck by an unknown projectile. The impact caused damage to several containers, though no fires or environmental impact were reported. Authorities are investigating, and vessels in the area have been advised to report any suspicious activity.

In an update published on April 14, UKMTO reported 18 incidents involving attacks on vessels operating in and around the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman.

Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz have been marked by fluctuating access for commercial shipping, with Iran declaring the waterway open while security operations continue to affect vessel movements. At the same time, the United States has maintained a naval enforcement posture targeting Iranian-linked maritime traffic, including reported interceptions and turn-backs of suspected vessels.