The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) said on Monday, 5 October 2026, that a tanker sailing on the inbound route of the Strait of Hormuz changed course and turned back after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made radio contact and threatened to target it. According to the agency, the incident took place about 11 nautical miles north of the port of Khasab in Oman.
According to Reuters, citing the centre, the tanker's master confirmed that he had complied with the IRGC's order. UKMTO said authorities were investigating the incident and urged vessels to transit the waterway with caution and to report any suspicious activity. The tanker's name and flag were not disclosed.
Fourth incident in a week
According to Voice of America, this is the fourth incident reported in the Strait of Hormuz in the past week. On Sunday, a tanker in the strait was also hit by an unidentified projectile that damaged its engine room. Since late March, the Islamic Republic has disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and made the passage of ships conditional on coordination with the IRGC.
Speculation over a "transit toll"
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera has reported on speculation that the Islamic Republic is collecting transit tolls. According to an analyst at the shipping data firm Kpler, ships that pass through without trouble may be paying for safe passage. In September the United States sanctioned a company called "Bitbank", which Washington says was used to collect transit fees from ships. However, Al Jazeera stresses that there is still no independent evidence of a systematic toll-collection mechanism.
According to Reuters, based on Kpler data, Middle East crude oil exports, excluding Iran, exceeded pre-war levels in the last week of September despite these attacks, with part of them exported via alternative routes that bypass Hormuz.
The IRGC forced a tanker near the coast of Oman to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz by threatening to attack it.
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