Iran Reports Explosions, Fires Aboard Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz
(MENAFN) Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that two oil tankers caught fire following explosions as they attempted to cross what it described as an unauthorized shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by semi-official reports, the IRGC Navy said both vessels were stopped in a restricted maritime corridor before explosions triggered major fires.
According to the statement, one of the ships, identified as a supertanker, struck a naval mine, causing an explosion.
The second vessel, which Tehran claimed was receiving assistance from US military fighter jets, reportedly encountered an unspecified incident while attempting to travel “secretly” through the restricted passage. The incident left the tanker stranded and on fire.
The IRGC Navy alleged that both ships had disabled their navigation and identification systems before entering the waterway.
The vessels were reportedly left burning near the southern coastline of the strait.
The Iranian force warned that the restricted route remained dangerous, threatening similar consequences for ships cooperating with the US military if they attempted to use the passage.
The statement did not disclose the vessels' names, flags or operators, nor did it provide information about potential casualties or the condition of their crews. The US military had not immediately commented on the alleged participation of American fighter jets.
The announcement followed a series of maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted commercial shipping amid its ongoing confrontation with Washington.
The strategic waterway links the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major international route for oil and gas shipments.
Commercial navigation through the strait has faced severe disruption since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, sparking a regional conflict and an extended dispute over maritime access rights.
In a statement carried by semi-official reports, the IRGC Navy said both vessels were stopped in a restricted maritime corridor before explosions triggered major fires.
According to the statement, one of the ships, identified as a supertanker, struck a naval mine, causing an explosion.
The second vessel, which Tehran claimed was receiving assistance from US military fighter jets, reportedly encountered an unspecified incident while attempting to travel “secretly” through the restricted passage. The incident left the tanker stranded and on fire.
The IRGC Navy alleged that both ships had disabled their navigation and identification systems before entering the waterway.
The vessels were reportedly left burning near the southern coastline of the strait.
The Iranian force warned that the restricted route remained dangerous, threatening similar consequences for ships cooperating with the US military if they attempted to use the passage.
The statement did not disclose the vessels' names, flags or operators, nor did it provide information about potential casualties or the condition of their crews. The US military had not immediately commented on the alleged participation of American fighter jets.
The announcement followed a series of maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted commercial shipping amid its ongoing confrontation with Washington.
The strategic waterway links the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major international route for oil and gas shipments.
Commercial navigation through the strait has faced severe disruption since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, sparking a regional conflict and an extended dispute over maritime access rights.
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