(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported Thursday that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly attempting to navigate unauthorized shipping routes.
In a statement carried by Iran’s official IRNA news agency, the IRGC said a large oil tanker struck a mine Wednesday night while passing through what it described as an unauthorized route south of the strait.
The explosion reportedly caused the vessel to catch fire and come to a halt.
In another incident, the IRGC said a supertanker caught fire while departing a designated route in the eastern section of the strait.
A tugboat that approached the tanker to assist in extinguishing the blaze also caught fire, according to the statement.
The IRGC did not immediately provide details on possible casualties, the extent of the damage or the identities of the vessels involved.
The claims could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed that its naval electronic warfare unit had “taken control of two Lucas-type aircraft,” which it described as intruding into Iranian-controlled areas.
The Iranian military organization also maintained that its naval forces continued to exercise control over the strategic waterway.
It accused the United States of encouraging commercial vessels to disregard maritime restrictions and navigate routes allegedly containing naval mines.
According to the IRGC, such actions could result in substantial financial losses, including higher maritime insurance costs affecting the United States and its regional allies.
The organization warned that further attempts to violate its shipping restrictions could lead to additional economic and political consequences for Washington.
The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, serving as a major shipping route for oil and natural gas exports from the Persian Gulf.
The reported incidents come amid continuing tensions between Iran and the United States following the outbreak of hostilities involving Washington, Israel and Tehran on February 28.
A ceasefire was reached in April, but fighting between the United States and Iran resumed in July as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict stalled.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns over maritime safety and the security of energy shipments passing through the strategically important waterway.
