Iran Guards say stopped four ships trying to transit Hormuz strait

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday their forces stopped four ships attempting to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours.

The vessels had tried to use a route the Guards described as illegal and unsafe.

Why did Iran's Guards stop four ships in the Strait of Hormuz?

The IRGC Navy fired warning shots after the vessels tried to transit through the southern area of the Strait of Hormuz via a route the Guards called illegal and unsafe.

The ships altered course following the warning shots, according to a statement quoted by Iranian state television. Iran did not name the vessels or specify their nationality.

Iran has in recent weeks hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the strait. The Guards' actions appear aimed at pressuring vessels into using Iranian waters and paying for safe passage instead.