Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy says 2 oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in Strait of Hormuz
- One vessel remains ablaze, with both immobilized after attempting passage through unauthorized route
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- One vessel remains ablaze, with both immobilized after attempting passage through unauthorized route
By Tarek Chouiref
ISTANBUL (AA) - Two oil tankers exploded after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Sunday.
One of the vessels, a supertanker, was still burning after a powerful blast, the force said in a statement.
It said both tankers had switched off their navigation and identification systems to attempt passage through an unauthorized route and were operating with US military support.
Both vessels were left immobilized following the explosions, according to the statement.
The IRGC Navy did not identify the tankers or provide information about their crews or possible casualties.
On Saturday, the force reported a similar incident, saying a supertanker had struck a mine east of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering an explosion and a fire.
Maritime tensions have persisted since the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran retaliated against Israel and US targets in the region before a ceasefire was reached in April.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the strait on June 18, but implementation stalled over disagreements concerning security arrangements.