Politics1 min read

IRGC says two oil tankers ablaze after collision with mines in Hormuz Strait

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Iranian naval authorities reported that two oil tankers were disabled and caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with one vessel struck in the waterway and the other in its eastern section. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the ships were attempting an unauthorized transit while receiving support from the American military. Iran declared the strategic passage fully closed until seven unspecified conditions are met, vowing that foreign escort efforts will fail.

Key points

  • The Iranian military declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until seven un…: The Iranian military declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until seven unspecified conditions are met.
  • Tehran asserted that the tankers were navigating an unauthorized, mine-contaminated passa…: Tehran asserted that the tankers were navigating an unauthorized, mine-contaminated passage with direct backing from the United States military.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that American CENTCOM efforts to move commer…: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that American CENTCOM efforts to move commercial tankers through the corridor will continue to fail.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy announced that two oil tankers caught fire after being struck by mines while attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement said that the two "offending" vessels - "one in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz and the other in the Strait of Hormuz itself" - were attempting to pass through an "unauthorised route".

They subsequently collided with mines, caught fire and were stopped in the water.

"These two tankers turned off all their navigation and identification systems and were trying to leave the unauthorized route of the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the aggressive and terrorist American army, but after hitting a mine, they caught fire and stopped," the IRGC said.

"The Strait of Hormuz is closed by God's grace and the efforts of the IRGC Navy, and there will be no change until the seven conditions are met, and the efforts of the aggressive CENTCOM forces to force tankers to pass through the unauthorized and mine-contaminated area will result in nothing but successive and shameful…

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