The U.S. reported that Iran's IRGC fired on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026, in retaliation for continued U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports — an escalation in the ongoing standoff over the critical shipping route. This threatens global oil supplies; oil prices had dropped 9% after Iran briefly reopened the strait the previous day, but this closure will likely reverse that market movement. The specific count of 'three attacks' cannot be independently verified from available coverage, which confirms firing incidents but does not specify exact numbers.