Iran Navy's corvette Bayandor fires on tanker Richmond Voyager.

According to information published by the US DoD on July 5, 2023, two raids by the Iranian Navy on commercial tankers traversing international waters were thwarted by the American military.
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Screenshot of the Iranian Bayandor-class corvette Bayandor firing on a tanker vessel.  (Picture source: US DoD)

Notably, one encounter involved a brief skirmish near Oman's coast, marking a disturbing escalation in tensions in the region. The first encounter unfolded as an Iranian naval vessel stalked the TRF Moss, an oil tanker sailing under the Marshall Islands flag in the Gulf of Oman.

However, the advance was repelled by the intervention of the USS McFaul (DDG 74), an American guided-missile destroyer. Additionally, the U.S. Navy enlisted the assistance of MQ-9 Reaper and P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to maintain a watchful eye on the situation.

Just three hours later, the distress signal from another oil tanker, the Richmond Voyager, reverberated across the U.S. Navy radios. The Bahamian-registered vessel was undertaking a journey across international waters, a good 20 miles away from Muscat, Oman, and headed towards the Arabian Sea, when it found itself under the gaze of another Iranian naval vessel.

The USS McFaul sped towards the threatened Richmond Voyager. Before the American destroyer could arrive at the scene, the Iranians unloaded a hail of gunfire on the tanker.

Although several rounds struck the ship’s hull in proximity to the crew’s living quarters, miraculously, there were no casualties or significant damage. The skirmish ended with the Iranian vessel retreating upon the arrival of the USS McFaul.

The occurrences signaled a rising pattern of maritime confrontations, which has compelled an augmentation of U.S. and allied forces in the Strait of Hormuz from May onwards. This escalation was driven by a growth in incidents where Iranian forces confronted merchant vessels.

Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, acting as the conduit for nearly a fifth of the globe's oil, carries immense geopolitical weight. Situated between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, its strategic location and the volume of oil traffic make it a key global energy chokepoint.

This importance is amplified by the potential for disruption from military activities or blockades, particularly from Iran which borders the northern edge of the strait.

Therefore, it isn't merely a crucial global energy artery, but also a stage for significant geopolitical tensions, especially between Iran and the Gulf Arab states.