IRGC says it stopped four ships trying to transit Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that its forces stopped four ships attempting to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

"Four vessels that had intended to transit through the southern area of the Strait of Hormuz via an illegal and unsafe route were stopped over the past 24 hours after warning shots were fired by the IRGC Navy," the Guards say in a statement quoted by state television, adding that the ships had "altered course."

Iran has in recent weeks hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the strait, in a bid to strongarm vessels into using its own waters and pay for safe passage.