Two oil tankers have caught fire and suffered severe damage following mine explosions in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, according to claims made by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Additionally, the Iranian Navy reportedly attacked a Thailand-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz as part of its efforts to maintain dominance over its territorial waters.
In a statement published by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim, the IRGC asserted that the two tankers were misled by incorrect coordinates provided by US intelligence agencies. This confusion allegedly led the vessels to attempt a passage through a designated minefield in the southern section of the strait, where they struck naval mines, triggering powerful explosions and subsequent fires.
The elite military force did not disclose the names of the affected tankers, their ownership, or any details regarding potential casualties among the crew members.
According to the IRGC Navy, the tankers had been repeatedly warned before entering the hazardous minefield, but the crew members ignored these alerts. The Iranian military urged mariners to ignore what it characterized as US-disseminated misinformation in order to safeguard their lives and assets.
Declaring the Strait of Hormuz to be "extremely unsafe," the IRGC issued a stern warning following the incident. The group stated that until US military operations in the region are halted, no vessels carrying oil, gas, or chemical fertilizers for export will be permitted to navigate through the strategic waterway.
The news of the mine explosions emerged shortly after US forces completed their seventh consecutive night of intense airstrikes and bombardments targeting various locations across Iran.
