• Iran’s navy says it fired warning shots at U.S. destroyers approaching the Strait of Hormuz after radio warnings were ignored.
  • The incident underscores elevated maritime tensions in the critical oil chokepoint, with potential implications for global energy markets.
  • No immediate U.S. response or confirmation of the Iranian account has been reported.

Iran’s navy said Saturday that its forces fired warning shots using missiles, rockets, and drones near U.S. destroyers that briefly approached the Strait of Hormuz from the Sea of Oman. According to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the American vessels had switched their radar systems off and on, which Iran interpreted as a potential ceasefire violation. After radio warnings to stay clear were ignored, Iranian units opened fire near the ships, blaming the United States for any escalation.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes, has long been a flashpoint in U.S.-Iran tensions. The latest encounter adds to a pattern of near-daily frictions in the corridor, including close-quarters interactions and occasional warning shots. In 2017, a similar incident saw Iranian vessels fire rockets near a U.S. Navy helicopter.

The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, had not commented by press time. The Pentagon was reached for comment but did not immediately respond.

The economic stakes are high. Any disruption to shipping in the strait typically sends oil prices and insurance premiums higher. Market participants will be watching for any signs of sustained risk premium or changes in naval patrol patterns. Sanctions enforcement by the U.S. and allied navies in the region remains active, with recent actions including seizures of Iranian oil shipments.

Geopolitical analysts note that the incident could complicate ongoing diplomatic backchannels between Washington and Tehran, while neither side appears keen for a wider confrontation. The immediate focus will be on how U.S. naval commanders adjust rules of engagement in response to Iranian claims of warning fire.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the number of U.S. destroyers involved. The Iranian statement referred to multiple vessels, but the exact count remains unconfirmed.