Iran stops vessels trying to cross Hormuz, Ukraine's attack on Iran´s ship kills 1

The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) stopped four vessels seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz through the southern route within the past 24 hours, state-run IRIB TV reported Saturday, reported Xinhua.

The report described the southern route as "illegal and unsafe," saying the vessels changed course after warning shots were fired.

It added that vessels using the southern route in recent days have experienced incidents and lost assets.

Iran tightened its grip on the strait on Feb. 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.

In recent days, the U.S. military has launched multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets, saying they were in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait and aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping."

Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in the region.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned a Ukrainian attack earlier in the day against an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea that led to the vessel's explosion and a sailor's death.

The ministry said in a statement that the attack, carried out by the Ukrainian government, also left one sailor wounded.

The strike violated the UN Charter and constituted an "act of aggression," it said.

Iran has never intervened in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the ministry said, adding the strike could further "spread the flames of the war and insecurity in a dangerous manner."

It stressed Iran will not hesitate to defend its national interests and security, warning that Ukraine will be responsible for the consequences of its "adventurism."

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's forces had hit a Russian warship and vessels used for transporting Iran-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea.