IRGC Navy says tanker caught fire after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said a super tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Mehr News. The IRGC Navy stated that the vessel had switched off all of its radar and navigation systems and attempted to exit through the southern, unauthorized route of the strait despite warnings from Iranian naval forces.

According to the IRGC Navy account, the tanker struck a naval mine, which triggered an explosion and a fire on board. The statement did not provide further details on casualties, the extent of the damage, or the identity of the vessel's owner or flag state.

The IRGC Navy warned that vessel owners and crews operating in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman would be held responsible for using unauthorized routes. It added that any movement disregarding the security of the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a firm response.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean, and is a key route for global oil shipments. The IRGC Navy's statement frames the incident around rules governing navigation through the strait and the consequences of using routes it does not authorize.

No independent confirmation of the incident, the mine strike, or the vessel's condition was included in the report. The IRGC Navy did not specify when the incident occurred or whether any crew members were injured.

According to Mehr News, the IRGC Navy issued the warning about responsibility for unauthorized routes alongside its account of the explosion and fire.