- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim the vessels attempted to navigate an unauthorised route and switched off their identification systems while leaving the strategic waterway.
DOHA: Two oil tankers caught fire after reportedly striking mines while attempting to navigate a route through the Strait of Hormuz that had not been authorised by Iran, according to a statement issued by the press service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The IRGC said the incidents involved two separate vessels, with one reportedly striking a mine east of the Strait of Hormuz and the other inside the strategic waterway.
According to the IRGC statement, both vessels had attempted to transit through a route that Iran had not authorised. The Iranian military force alleged that the ships had violated established navigation rules and switched off their navigation and identification systems while attempting to leave the strait through the prohibited passage.
The IRGC described the incidents as the consequence of the vessels’ alleged failure to comply with the navigation arrangements in place.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, serving as a vital route for international energy supplies and global oil trade. Any disruption to shipping in the waterway carries significant implications for international energy markets, maritime security and regional stability.
The circumstances surrounding the reported incidents, including the extent of the damage and the condition of the crews, were not independently confirmed in the statement.
BY: The Times Union
