NEW DELHI: Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated, making the crucial oil route increasingly volatile. Several vessels were forced to turn back after reports of gunfire from Iranian gunboats, including an Indian supertanker that made an abrupt U-turn on Saturday, as the Associated Press reported.The Indian tanker, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz, was forced to turn back after gunshots.According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker passing through the strait. The crew and vessel were reported safe, though officials did not disclose the ship’s identity or destination. TankerTrackers.com also said multiple vessels reversed course after the incident, including an Indian-flagged supertanker.At the same time, mixed signals from the Iranian leadership added to the uncertainty. Bloomberg reported that Indian crude tankers turned back due to confusion over the situation, as US–Iran talks have yet to produce clear results.This lack of clarity from Tehran has made shipowners cautious about using the route. Along with Indian ships, several Greek tankers also turned around earlier in the day, reflecting growing concerns over safety in one of the world’s busiest oil corridors.According to Reuters, at least two merchant ships came under gunfire while attempting to transit the troubled waterway on Saturday, according to Reuters.One of the world’s busiest oil routes has seen severely constrained traffic after seven weeks of heightened tensions, triggered by US President Donald Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation.Hopes of partial relief had emerged following a 10-day ceasefire window, linked to parallel de-escalation efforts involving Israel and Lebanon, which prompted some vessels to attempt passage. Trump, who has also claimed credit for halting multiple conflicts, announced the temporary truce.The FPMC C Lord, a very large crude carrier carrying Qatari and Saudi crude, was sailing south of Iran’s Larak island and heading toward the Gulf of Oman around midday on Saturday. Its declared destination was Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.A handful of other oil carriers are also moving toward the waterway. Earlier in the day, three liquefied petroleum gas carriers and an oil products tanker, some of them under US sanctions, proceeded east into the Gulf of Oman, with a Pakistan-flagged tanker following close behind. Several liquefied natural gas carriers are also approaching the strait.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Hormuz was “completely open” to commercial shipping for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, offering major relief to global shipowners and energy markets.However, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency later reported that the passage would remain closed if a US naval blockade continued. Shipowners operating in the Persian Gulf have also reported radio advisories instructing vessels to seek permission before crossing.State-run Nour News said on Saturday that the waterway was “under strict management and control by the armed forces”, but stopped short of explicitly confirming whether the strait had been shut again.Amid the uncertainty, hesitation remained evident. Greek and Indian crude tankers made abrupt U-turns early on Saturday after initially sailing northeast toward Hormuz from waters off Dubai while fully laden. Several vessels are now idling near Iran’s Qeshm island, close to where they reversed course, while another has not transmitted its geolocation for several hours.
