Politics1 min read

Iran says three tankers exploded using ‘unauthorised’ Hormuz routes

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that three oil tankers caught fire and exploded while navigating unauthorized paths through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media noted that one vessel struck a mine while transporting two million barrels of crude oil. Tehran also claimed to have downed an American aerial drone and destroyed a U.S. unmanned surface vessel. U.S. Central Command rejected the latter claim, confirming all of its regional maritime drones remain accounted for.

Key points

  • Iranian forces are actively monitoring and targeting commercial maritime traffic attempti…: Iranian forces are actively monitoring and targeting commercial maritime traffic attempting to bypass designated transit corridors.
  • Disputed claims over destroyed unmanned vessels highlight the growing risk of direct mili…: Disputed claims over destroyed unmanned vessels highlight the growing risk of direct military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
  • U.S. Central Command continues to challenge Iranian narratives regarding alleged strikes…: U.S. Central Command continues to challenge Iranian narratives regarding alleged strikes on American military assets in the Middle East.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Friday that three oil tankers had caught fire and exploded while attempting to use what it described as unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported.

An IRGC Navy statement said one of the tankers, which was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, had hit a mine.

State media said Iranian forces had also downed and captured a US MQM-170 drone over Iran's Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran also said it had destroyed an unmanned US vessel in the eastern Strait of Hormuz.

But Centcom denied this in a statement on X, saying that "all US military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for."

🚫 CLAIM: Today, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it destroyed a U.S. military sea drone in the Strait of Hormuz. This claim is FALSE, just like many other IRGC lies this week. ✅ FACT: All U.S. military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones on patrol in…

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