The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced early Sunday that two oil tankers had struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying both vessels caught fire as they attempted to navigate a route it described as unauthorized.
“Two oil tankers have struck naval mines while attempting to pass through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, and they are currently on fire,” the statement said.
According to the statement, one tanker was hit in an area east of the Strait of Hormuz, while the other was struck inside the strait. The IRGC also accused the vessels of committing multiple violations.
Commercial Vessel Targeted in the Gulf of Oman
In a related development, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had earlier announced that its forces targeted a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the naval blockade.
These developments come amid continued tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for transporting oil and natural gas, as Tehran and Washington remain at odds over maritime security and arrangements for control of the waterway.
IRGC Says Strait of Hormuz Will Remain Closed
The IRGC had previously stated that the Strait of Hormuz “will remain closed,” saying the situation would not change until what it described as its “seven conditions” were met.
It also warned that attempts by U.S. Central Command forces to force oil tankers to pass through areas it described as “unauthorized and mined” would, according to the statement, lead only to “successive defeats.”
