Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Tuesday that two oil tankers were disabled after explosions caused extensive fires while attempting to navigate an unsafe route south of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the IRGC said the vessels were attempting to pass through the strategic waterway after being misled by the US military’s false information. It said the tankers were using a dangerous route and warned shipping companies against relying on US guidance regarding maritime traffic in the area.
The IRGC said rescue and emergency units were working to evacuate the crews from the vessels following the incident.
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The IRGC reiterated its warning to shipping companies, urging them to prioritize the safety of their crews and vessels and avoid contaminated and dangerous routes.
The statement said foreign military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz lacked legitimacy, while asserting that security arrangements for the strategic waterway fall within Iran’s regional considerations.
The IRGC said that as long as US aggression in the region continues, the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed, adding that no oil, gas, or fertilizer shipments would leave the area.
The IRGC statement came after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a maritime incident involving a tanker near Oman.
UKMTO said it received reports of an incident northeast of Limah, Oman, with a tanker reporting over VHF Channel 16 that it had been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.
In an update, UKMTO said the vessel’s company security officer reported that the crew had abandoned the ship and were aboard a lifeboat. The organization said no environmental impact had been reported and that authorities were investigating the incident.
The incident follows a similar development on Monday, when the IRGC said two tankers attempting to navigate an unsafe route through the Strait of Hormuz were hit by explosions and forced to stop.
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