IRGC navy says oil tanker struck mine in Strait of Hormuz
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said a supertanker struck a naval mine in the southern Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, causing an explosion and a fire in the engine room.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy claimed the vessel was carrying crude oil toward the exit of the strait with its navigation systems switched off and was traveling along an unauthorized route.
The statement described the incident as the third such case involving oil tankers since Saturday, claiming the vessels struck naval mines and caught fire while using unauthorized routes.
Iranian media outlets released footage of the incident.
The IRGC Navy warned that vessels in the strait that switch off their navigation and identification systems would be classified as hostile and face a forceful response.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately reported that an outbound tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire.
Its crew was reported safe, while the extent of the damage remained unclear. The circumstances of the incident were under investigation.
