The naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) say they struck a large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier that attempted to pass through an “illegal route” south of the Strait of Hormuz, setting it on fire. According to Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC Navy issued the statement on Friday.
Fire in engine room and propulsion system
The IRGC Navy said the vessel, the “NV Sunshine”, a giant LPG carrier owned by the company Nhat Viet, was hit while trying to transit the unauthorized route south of the strait, and suffered a large fire in its engine room and propulsion system.
The force said it is exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz in line with the order of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, and the Iranian people’s demand to exercise sovereignty over the waterway.
Read More: IRGC Says Two Oil Tankers Disabled by Explosions South of Strait of Hormuz
IRGC holds US directly responsible
The statement held the US military directly responsible for such incidents and for rising tensions in regional shipping, saying Washington causes them by interfering in and deceiving shipping and insurance companies and paying large bribes.
The IRGC warned that companies misled by the US would face sanctions and that punitive measures would be taken against their vessels. Enforcement would no longer be confined to the Strait of Hormuz, it added: any ship using an unauthorized passage would be pursued throughout the region, and “punishment would be certain.”
There has so far been no independent confirmation of the claim from the vessel’s owners or any independent maritime body.
Source: Tasnim News Agency
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