Iran Claims Two Oil Tankers Caught Fire After Hitting Mines in Strait of Hormuz
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after hitting mines while attempting to use an unauthorized route. This follows a similar incident on Thursday involving five other tankers and a tugboat. Iran has controlled the vital waterway since February and targets ships entering without permission.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines, Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced Friday.
- The IRGC stated the vessels were using an unauthorized route when they collided with mines.
- This incident occurred one day after Iran reported five other tankers and a tugboat caught fire.
- Iran has controlled the Strait of Hormuz since February, targeting unauthorized vessels.
- Maritime officials have not yet confirmed the reported incidents.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with mines. According to a statement broadcast by state media, the vessels were attempting to transit the strait via an unauthorized route when the incident occurred.
The IRGC statement, reported by official television, detailed that one tanker was in the eastern sector of the strait and the other within its boundaries. Both ships allegedly disabled their navigation and identification systems and attempted to leave the permitted shipping lane before striking mines and igniting fires.
This incident follows Iran's announcement on Thursday that five other oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz overnight. Officials in the maritime sector have not yet confirmed these latest events.
Iran has been controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint that previously handled one-fifth of the world's energy supplies, since February, following what the article describes as "American-Israeli strikes on Iran." The IRGC regularly targets vessels entering the strait without its permission.
Ships have been attempting to navigate the strait without Tehran's authorization, often sailing close to the Omani coast. Iran considers this a violation of its regulations and frequently threatens to take action against such vessels.
