Pakistani-flagged Tanker First to Exit Hormuz with UAE Crude Since US Curbs

Russian outlets underline the reported attack or harassment of a tanker by IRGC boats in the Strait of Hormuz, casting Iran as a direct threat to shipping. They frame the Pakistani-flagged tanker’s experience as proof that any transit through Hormuz now carries serious risk, regardless of whether convoys are moving. They expect more incidents or close calls unless Iran and the US reach some understanding over Gulf traffic.

• •Russian reporting stresses that a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz reported an attack by IRGC boats.
• •Russian outlets describe IRGC actions as a deliberate show of force against foreign-flagged tankers.
• •Coverage from this block links the harassment incident to a wider risk of miscalculation between Iran and Western navies in the Gulf.
• •Russian commentary suggests that even escorted convoys cannot fully protect ships from small-boat harassment or boarding attempts.
• •Russian sources warn that repeated IRGC incidents could push some shippers to avoid Hormuz and seek alternative routes or suppliers.