US attacks Iranian vessels near Omani port, blockade continues

The US Central Command on Saturday said that their blockade against Iran remains in force, reported ANI.

CENTCOM said it redirected 58 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since April 13 to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.

In a post on X, it said, "The U.S. Naval blockade against Iran continues be to fully enforced. As of today, CENTCOM forces have redirected 58 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since April 13 to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports."

This comes as Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the National Security Committee of Iran's Parliament warned Bahrain against siding with the US.

In a post on X, he said, "We warn governments, including microstates like Bahrain, that siding with the U.S.-backed resolution will bring severe consequences. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital lifeline; do not risk closing it on yourselves FOREVER."

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan held a telephone call late on Friday on the recent developments in the region, as reported by Mehr News Agency.

As per Mehr News Agency reports, Araghchi added that the recent escalation of tensions by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violation of the ceasefire have increased suspicions about the seriousness of the American side in the path of diplomacy.

No ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, RT reported, quoting data by the Marine Traffic.

As per reports, prior to the US-Iran war, the daily average was more than 130 vessels.

Meanwhile, at least six people were injured and six others went missing in an attack by U.S. fighter jets on six Iranian cargo and fishing vessels near Oman's port city of Khasab, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Saturday, reported Xinhua.

The vessels belonged to villagers in Bandar Lengeh County of the southern Hormozgan province, county Governor Foad Moradzadeh was quoted as saying.

Moradzadeh said the injured were hospitalized, adding that a total of 20 people were on board the vessels at the time of the strike on Friday night.

On Friday, the official news agency IRNA reported that at least one person was killed and 10 others were injured in a U.S. attack the night before on a civilian vessel off the Hormozgan coast.

The attack caused the 15-crew cargo ship to catch fire, and led to the remaining four people going missing, IRNA reported.

Sporadic clashes erupted on Thursday and Friday between Iran and the United States in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

On Thursday night, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said U.S. forces had attacked two Iranian vessels, later identified as oil tankers, near the Strait of Hormuz and concurrently carried out airstrikes on civilian areas in southern Iran in cooperation with some regional states.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the Iranian command's spokesperson, said Iranian forces immediately retaliated by attacking U.S. military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Iran's Chabahar port, causing significant damage.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that U.S. forces had intercepted "unprovoked Iranian attacks" and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

No ships have passed through Hormuz in past 24h

No ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, RT reported, quoting data by the Marine Traffic, reported ANI.

As per reports, prior to the US-Iran war, the daily average was more than 130 vessels.

Meanwhile, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has accused the United States of violating the ceasefire through military actions near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, Iravani said alleged US military action against two Iranian oil tankers near Jask Port and the Strait of Hormuz, along with attacks on Iranian coastal areas, constituted "a clear violation of the ceasefire" and "a gross violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter".

He warned that continued US military activity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz could have "catastrophic consequences" extending beyond the region and threatening international peace and security. (ANI)

1 Indian national dead after dhow catches fire near Hormuz

A wooden dhow carrying general cargo with 18 Indian crew members capsized near the Strait of Hormuz after catching fire, leaving one Indian national dead and four receiving burn injuries, reported ANI, quoting a government source.

The incident occurred on Friday near the strategic waterway, with authorities still working to determine the exact cause of the fire. According to the source, the crew members were rescued by a passing vessel after the dhow caught fire and overturned.

"In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries," the source told ANI, adding that the injured crew members are currently receiving treatment in Dubai and are reported to be safe.

Indian consular officials met the rescued nationals shortly after the incident, the source said.

"Our officials from the Indian Consulate met the rescued Indian nationals yesterday night itself. The consulate is also in touch with the Dhow owner and extending all possible assistance," the source added.

Earlier on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that 11 Indian ships had exited the Strait of Hormuz and 13 ships continue to be in the Persian Gulf.