Two oil tankers explode after striking mines in Hormuz: IRGC
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- Iran claims the vessels were placed under US-linked control for unauthorized transit.
- Tehran warns of further punitive measures against vessels using unapproved routes.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that two oil tankers exploded and came to a halt after hitting naval mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a statement released by the IRGC, the two vessels had evacuated their crews before being handed over to personnel connected to the US military to pass through an "illegal route" in the strategic waterway.
"The vessels hit mines, exploded and were brought to a halt," the IRGC statement read, adding that both tankers were currently on fire.
The IRGC statement did not disclose the names of the two tankers, their flag states, exact locations within the strait, or information regarding potential casualties.
Tehran warns maritime operators
The IRGC noted that its naval forces had previously issued warnings regarding the hazards of navigating through the mined section of the passage.
In its statement, the military force issued direct threats of "additional punitive measures" against international shipping companies that allow their vessels to utilize routes deemed unauthorized by Tehran rather than its designated passages.
The IRGC concluded by emphasizing that recent US military maneuvers in the region would fail to weaken Iran's authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
