Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two commercial tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after an explosion forced both vessels to stop while sailing through the strategic waterway early Tuesday.
In a statement, the IRGC claimed the ships had been directed by the United States to use a southern route that it described as unsafe, blaming the navigation guidance for the incident.
Iranian authorities said emergency responders were deployed to evacuate crew members from the affected vessels as rescue operations continued.
The IRGC urged shipping companies to disregard US military navigation advice in the area, warning that following those routes could expose vessels to greater danger.
It also maintained that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed while what it described as ongoing US military operations against Iran continued.
The latest statement came amid escalating hostilities between Tehran and Washington, with both sides carrying out retaliatory strikes in recent days against military-related targets in the region.
Iran said it had launched punitive measures against US bases over alleged maritime violations, while tensions continued to raise concerns over security in one of the world’s busiest oil shipping lanes.
The renewed confrontation unfolded despite a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan in June that sought to end the conflict and pave the way for a long-term peace agreement.
