IRGC Navy reports third tanker fire in Strait of Hormuz

The Public Relations Office of the IRGC Navy issued a statement on Tuesday reporting that a third oil tanker was burning in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the statement, smoke from the explosion and the ensuing fire had spread across the area.

The IRGC Navy said that the tanker had been attempting to pass through unauthorized routes at significantly greater risk than before, following the destruction of coastal radar and navigational assistance systems belonging to the US military in the southern Strait of Hormuz. The statement added, "As a result of their attempts to navigate dangerous and unauthorized routes, these tankers are striking naval mines."

Earlier on Tuesday, the IRGC Navy reported that two other oil tankers attempting to navigate a similar route had suffered massive explosions and were left ablaze. The latest incident brings the number of tankers reported on fire in the Strait of Hormuz to three within a single day.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass. The IRGC Navy's statement did not provide further details on the tankers' identities, flags, or the extent of the damage.

According to Mehr News, the IRGC Navy's public relations office made the announcement in an official statement, noting that the tankers were navigating routes it described as unauthorized and dangerous after the US military's coastal radar and navigational assistance systems in the southern Strait were destroyed.