IRGC Navy says two oil tankers exploded in Strait of Hormuz after unauthorized transit

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Sunday night that two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after navigating an unauthorized route through the strategic waterway, according to a statement cited by Mehr News Agency.

The statement said one of the vessels is a supertanker, which was engulfed in flames following a powerful explosion after it took the unauthorized path. Both vessels had deliberately deactivated their navigation and identification systems in an effort to pass covertly through the restricted southern route, the IRGC Navy said, adding that they were operating with the support of what it described as the terrorist US military.

Both vessels came to a halt at the scene following the explosions, the statement added. The IRGC Navy said the tankers ignored repeated warnings and entered dangerous waters in clear violation of the regulations governing the strategic waterway.

The IRGC Navy further stated that responsibility for the consequences lies fully with the vessels' owners, who it said chose unauthorized transit over compliance with Iranian maritime safety protocols.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a large share of the world's seaborne oil passes. Iran has repeatedly stated that it regulates transit through the strait and has warned vessels against using routes it considers unauthorized.

The statement did not provide details on the national flags of the vessels, their cargo, the number of crew members aboard, or any casualties. It also did not specify the exact time of the explosions beyond saying they occurred after the vessels entered the restricted route.

According to Mehr News Agency, the IRGC Navy's statement asserted that the tankers' owners bear full responsibility for the incident and reiterated that the vessels had violated the rules governing the waterway.