- IRGC turned back Indian oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz.
- Tanker was using US-backed Oman corridor, not Iran's.
- Incident signals escalating maritime tensions in crucial waterway.
As fresh tensions brew in the Strait of Hormuz, an Indian oil tanker has been turned back from the Oman corridor in the crucial waterway, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
The tanker was using the temporary corridor along the Oman coast, announced in the Strait by the Middle Eastern country and the UN’s International Maritime Organisation on June 24.
They had announced that the corridor would be overseen by the United States for the evacuation of stranded vessels in the Gulf.
According to Fars' report, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), has warned ships intending to use the Oman corridor via radio communication. The IRGC has been directing them to use the corridor designated by Iran.
The report further stated that the ship tracking data showed all vessels that transited through the Strait used the Iran-designated corridor this morning.
Iran's attacks on three vessels resume strikes, put ceasefire at risk
Earlier on Tuesday, news agency ANI cited government sources saying that a crude oil tanker, OMEGA TRADER, transited through the Oman corridor after intervention by the Government of India and the Indian Navy.
The UK maritime organisation had also reported that three vessels were targeted in the Strait within 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday, including a Qatari LNG tanker, Al Rekayyat.
Qatar accused Iran of striking the tanker, which caused a fire in the engine room. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the attack a threat to regional security.
Responding to the remarks, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported that Al-Raqayat was targeted as it allegedly attempted to transit through the Oman corridor.
The attacks blew up the ceasefire as on Tuesday (local time), the US struck Iranian targets. In retaliation, Tehran struck US bases in the Gulf countries. As the military exchange resumed, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire was "over". However, he left the door open to more talks.