Newsletters
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday that two supertankers carrying more than 4 million barrels of oil caught fire following explosions in the Strait of Hormuz after attempting to travel through a route Tehran considers unauthorized.
The IRGC Navy said the vessels were involved in what it described as an "accident" Wednesday night while using an "unsafe" southern route despite repeated warnings from Iranian forces.
The incident left both tankers immobilized after what the Guards described as a "violent explosion."
The IRGC did not identify the vessels or explain what caused the reported accidents and explosions.
"These two supertankers were carrying a combined total of over four million barrels of oil, which are now ablaze, a consequence of the blind trust placed in the aggressive American military," the Guards said in a statement.
The reported incident comes amid continuing restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that normally handles approximately one-fifth of global oil shipments.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East war in late February, Iran has heavily restricted shipping through the strait, insisting that vessels use routes approved by Tehran.
Iran closed the waterway again on July 12 after the United States resumed military attacks on July 8.
Washington has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and assisted tankers attempting to navigate the strait.
Tehran has repeatedly warned that ships traveling outside designated routes or without Iranian authorization could be targeted.
Iranian forces have reported several incidents in recent weeks involving vessels catching fire while attempting to use routes considered off-limits by Tehran.
Iranian authorities have previously attributed some incidents to naval mines. However, the U.S. military recently claimed that all mines had been cleared from the strait.
The IRGC did not say whether mines were involved in Wednesday night's incident.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
