Iran Reports 26 Ships Passed Strait of Hormuz Amid Regional Tensions

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) announced that 26 commercial and oil tankers successfully traversed the Strait of Hormuz after obtaining the necessary permits to use the secure corridor. Iranian naval forces reported intercepting two vessels and turning others back after detecting attempts to enter the Gulf illegally by manipulating navigation systems. Concurrent security incidents were reported near Bandar Abbas, where the IRGCN claimed U.S. forces launched missiles into vacant areas, followed by a counter-strike from a U.S. base. U.S. Central Command stated that Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait, which Kuwaiti forces successfully intercepted without casualties or material damage. Tehran reaffirmed that the control and management of the Strait of Hormuz remain exclusively under Iranian authority, warning of severe responses to any violations of its maritime sovereignty.