Iranian Guard Accuses Tankers of Ignoring Warnings After Mine Strikes in Hormuz
Three oil tankers caught fire and grounded in the southern strait after hitting naval mines, according to the IRGC, which cites disabled radar systems as a key factor.
By Yasmin Farouk ·
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared Thursday that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels subsequently ran aground on the southern coast of the waterway.
The IRGC Navy public relations office stated in a statement that the incidents occurred within the last 24 hours. The guard said the ships were attempting to use the unauthorized southern route through the strait. It accused the vessels of ignoring specific warnings from the IRGC Navy before the collisions.
Tehran has long insisted that ships must navigate the northern lanes closer to its coast in coordination with Iranian authorities. Washington has encouraged shipping lines to use the southern path, a corridor President Trump declared clear of mines in late August.
The IRGC noted that the three tankers had switched off all radar and navigation systems. The guard described this as a common practice among vessels trying to evade blockades imposed by the United States or Iran in the region and surrounding waters.
The Iranian military body assigned responsibility to the ship owners and crews for using the route against which Tehran had warned for months. The three grounded vessels remain in the southern sector of the strait following the blasts.
