Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday that its forces struck a vessel attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway vital to global energy supplies.
The incident comes as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes against Iran in February, which prompted Tehran to impose a blockade on the strait.
The blockade has been met with a US counter-blockade targeting Iranian ports, while American forces have routinely escorted vessels navigating the waterway. Since the beginning of the war, Iran has repeatedly targeted ships attempting to cross the strait without its authorization.
IRGC Says Tanker Was Set Ablaze
In a statement published on its news platform, Sepah News, the IRGC Navy said a “supertanker” had been struck in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire.
According to the statement, the vessel attempted to pass through the area while disabling its transponders and disregarding warnings issued by the IRGC Navy.
Ali Ozmaei, the IRGC’s naval commander, warned over the weekend that any vessel switching off its transponder to avoid detection while crossing the strait would be considered “hostile” and could face a “severe” response.
UK Maritime Agency Reports Multiple Incidents
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported four separate incidents on Monday involving vessels that were struck in the Strait of Hormuz on the previous day.
The developments underscore the growing risks to commercial shipping in one of the world’s most important maritime corridors, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes.
