Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired on a container ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel and further heightening tensions in the region.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place around 7:55am local time, when a Guard gunboat targeted the ship without issuing any warning.
The attack damaged the container vessel, but no one on board was injured and there was no environmental damage, according to UKMTO.
Iran did not immediately comment on the incident.
The development comes amid rising maritime tensions, following recent US actions including the seizure of an Iranian-linked container ship and the boarding of an oil tanker connected to Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean.
The latest incident also coincided with stalled efforts for planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan that ultimately did not move forward.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and any disruption there often raises global concern over energy supplies and security.