The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacks two vessels in Gulf waters
The two attacks come amid on-the-ground escalation by Tehran despite President Trump’s announcement extending the ceasefire.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported on Wednesday that it had received a report of an incident 15 nautical miles northeast of the Sultanate of Oman, after the captain of a container ship reported the approach of a military craft belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The vessel was subsequently fired upon, causing significant damage to the bridge, though no fires or environmental damage were reported. All crew members are safe.
A British maritime authority also announced that another cargo ship was fired upon 8 miles west of Iran, with no damage recorded in this second attack, highlighting the scale of the escalation carried out by Iranian forces in territorial waters.
These two attacks occur as part of operational escalation by Tehran despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement extending the ceasefire with the Iranians to allow more room for peaceful solutions.
Several Iranian military and political leaders had previously warned the U.S. side against a return to war. Iran’s supreme joint military command warned of a “powerful attack” against pre-selected targets in response to Trump’s repeated threats.
Despite these violations in regional territorial waters, Iran filed a complaint with the United Nations on Tuesday regarding the U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship in the Sea of Oman last Sunday.
Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations stated in a post on the platform X that the United States “attacked the cargo ship Tuska and held its crew hostage.” It described the act as “a grave violation of international law, a clear breach of the ceasefire, and an act of aggression bearing the characteristics of piracy.”
It added that the “reckless conduct of the United States” directly endangers international navigation and undermines maritime security, noting that Iran had sent messages to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council regarding the matter.
Amid these developments, the British government said that military planners from more than 30 countries would hold two days of talks in London starting Wednesday to advance a mission aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and developing detailed plans. More than ten countries confirmed last week their readiness to join an international mission led by the United Kingdom and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when conditions allow.
This commitment follows the participation of around 50 countries from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East in a videoconference aimed at sending a message to Washington after Trump said he did not require assistance from allies.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that Wednesday’s meeting would build on progress made during last week’s discussions.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said, “The mission, today and tomorrow, is to translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to protect freedom of navigation in the strait and support a lasting ceasefire,” adding, “I am confident that real progress can be made over the next two days.”
Britain added that the talks would strengthen military plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as conditions permit following a sustainable ceasefire. Participants are expected to discuss military capabilities, command and control arrangements, and how forces would be deployed in the region.
