TEHRAN – The Navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that another oil tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a sea mine while attempting to navigate an unauthorized route, following a similar incident on Saturday.
According to Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC Navy’s public relations office said in a statement on Sunday night that a shuttle-type oil tanker carrying 750,000 barrels of crude oil attempted to pass through an unauthorized route on Sunday afternoon, disregarding warnings and alerts issued by the force.
The tanker struck a sea mine, triggering an explosion and a severe fire, the statement said.
Vessels Switching Off Identification to Be Treated as Hostile
In a separate warning, the IRGC Navy announced that all vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that switch off their navigation and identification systems will be identified as hostile and dealt with firmly and decisively.
Earlier on Saturday, the IRGC Navy reported that a supertanker carrying crude oil caught fire after striking a sea mine while attempting to leave the strategic waterway through an unauthorized route. The vessel had reportedly switched off its navigation and positioning systems before the incident and was engulfed in a massive fire visible to residents along the coast.
Consequences for Violating Regulations
The IRGC Navy has warned that oil tankers disregarding the security requirements and regulations governing the Strait of Hormuz will have to face the consequences.
The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most vital energy chokepoints, carrying a large share of oil exports from Persian Gulf states. Tehran maintains that securing the waterway is Iran’s responsibility. On the same day, Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said repeated US propaganda claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz could not change the realities on the ground.
The latest incident underlines the serious risks facing vessels that ignore the navigation rules set by the IRGC Navy for transit through the strait.
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