Indian Oil Tanker Turns Back After Iranian Warship Warning In Strait Of Hormuz

An Iranian warship warned an Indian oil tanker trying to cross the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the vessel to turn back, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

The tanker, HAANA, was trying to use the southern route, known as the “Oman corridor”, when a large Iranian warship warned it, Fars said. The tanker did not continue.

Fars also said that no ships had been seen using the southern route in the previous 24 hours. The report has not been independently confirmed by Iranian or Indian authorities.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war began in February, around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the waterway.

Most commercial traffic has since stopped, affecting energy markets and global shipping.

Iranian Warship Warns Indian Tanker

Fars reported that the Indian oil tanker HAANA tried to use the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, known as the Oman corridor, a few months ago. It was stopped after receiving a warning.

The agency described the Iranian vessel as a large warship but did not identify it. It also did not say what the warning was about or how long the encounter lasted.

Fars also said no ships had used the southern route in the previous 24 hours.

The incident has not been independently confirmed by Iranian or Indian authorities.

Iran and Oman Discuss Temporary Shipping Route

Iran and Oman are still discussing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman said the two countries had discussed a temporary route for ships and plans to clear mines from the waterway.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Tuesday that Iran and Oman had agreed on a temporary route for ships using the strait.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson, cited by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, also said the two countries had reached agreements on their respective shares of the waterway’s waters and the revenues generated from it.

But a senior Iranian source later told Reuters that no agreement had been finalised. The source said talks were still continuing over the details.

Iran Sets Conditions for Reopening Hormuz

Iran has said that an agreement with Oman alone would not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States stopped obstructing Iran and returned to an agreement.

Mohebbi added that Iran would not reopen the waterway unless the United States accepted its conditions.

Iran has demanded an end to the U.S. blockade of its ports, compensation and the removal of sanctions as conditions for reopening the strait.

The United States continues to put economic and military pressure on Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said both forms of pressure are working. He has also said that Washington is not in a hurry to negotiate with Tehran.

References: India Today, News18