IRGC Navy says tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz after unauthorized transit attempt

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said in a statement released on Friday morning that its forces continue to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and will not allow what it described as unauthorized vessels to pass through the waterway. According to the statement, the oil tanker Trend, flying the flag of Togo, was hit while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and came to a halt after a fire broke out onboard.

The IRGC Navy said the tanker had attempted the transit under what it described as "provocation and deception" by the U.S. military. It reiterated its warning that any unauthorized attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz would result in the destruction of the vessel involved.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital chokepoint at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which a significant share of global seaborne oil passes. Iran has repeatedly stated that it controls the waterway and has warned against unauthorized transits.

The statement did not provide further details on the extent of the damage to the vessel, the condition of its crew, or the exact timing of the incident beyond the Friday morning release. No independent confirmation of the incident was immediately available.

According to Mehr News, the IRGC Navy's announcement underscored its continued assertion of authority over the Strait of Hormuz and its stated policy of responding to any vessel it deems to be transiting without authorization.