IRGC says supertanker explodes in Strait of Hormuz after hitting naval mine

A supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine, according to a statement by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC said the vessel was attempting to transit the strait through an unauthorized route.

The IRGC stated that the supertanker switched off all its positioning and radar systems in an attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, aided by what it described as deception and the support of the "smuggling, terrorist US military." The IRGC Navy declared, "The Strait of Hormuz is closed; and the consequence for vessels that defy Iranian regulations in the Strait of Hormuz is to be consumed by the fire of the US terrorist military, an entity they so misguidedly trusted."

The statement underscored that the tanker's decision to disable its tracking equipment and rely on US military escort rather than coordinating with Iranian authorities was the direct cause of the disaster. The IRGC said the incident resulted in an explosion and a massive fire aboard the vessel.

According to Mehr News, the IRGC's statement emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and warned that vessels defying Iranian regulations would face consequences. The report did not provide further details on casualties or the extent of the damage.