‘Violating tanker catches fire’ in Sea of Oman, Iranian navy says

• Iran’s navy says an oil tanker caught fire after attempting to cross a restricted area in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.
• Iranian state television said the tanker had switched off its tracking systems and attempted to cross a prohibited area, warning that unauthorized movements threaten maritime security.

Iran’s navy said an oil tanker attempting to cross a restricted area near the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after allegedly switching off its tracking systems and attempting to navigate a prohibited zone in the Sea of Oman.

Iranian state television reported that naval surveillance teams had detected and identified the tanker after it caught fire in the restricted area.

The report described the vessel as a “violating oil tanker” and said it had “turned off its tracking systems and attempted to cross the prohibited area in the Sea of Oman”.

The navy’s statement, broadcast by Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), did not identify the tanker, disclose its flag or provide details about the cause of the fire, the vessel’s cargo or the condition of its crew.

In its statement, the Iranian navy warned that vessels moving through restricted maritime zones without coordination could endanger other ships operating in the area.

The navy “emphasises that the consequences of uncoordinated movements in prohibited routes and areas are creating insecurity and many dangers for other vessels”, the statement said, according to IRIB.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions and increased attention to maritime movements around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea.

The strait is a critical route for international energy shipments, making security incidents in the surrounding waters a concern for commercial shipping and global oil markets.

Iranian state television did not provide further information about the circumstances of the incident, including when the fire began, whether the tanker had been intercepted by Iranian forces or whether emergency assistance had been requested.

There was also no independent confirmation in the report of the navy’s account of the vessel’s movements or the circumstances that led to the fire.

The tanker’s identity, the extent of any damage and the status of its crew remained unclear in the information released by Iranian authorities.