Iran: Revolutionary Guards Attempt to Seize US Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered immediate negotiations with the US on February 3, 2026, a major incident nearly unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz. According to UK-based maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, six fast armed boats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the US-linked tanker Stena Imperative approximately 16 nautical miles north of Oman. The IRGC vessels radioed the ship’s captain to halt engines and prepare for inspection—but the tanker accelerated and continued its transit. Vanguard Tech confirmed the vessel never entered Iranian territorial waters and is now escorted by a US Navy warship. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) earlier reported an unspecified ‘incident’ in the area. The Strait of Hormuz remains a global flashpoint due to escalating Iran–US tensions, especially after recent IRGC threats to close the waterway if Iran faces US military action.