The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Navy says a rogue supertanker attempting to navigate an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz struck two sea mines, triggering massive fires on board the vessel and bringing it to a complete stop.
In a statement issued on Monday, the IRGC Navy said the tanker had attempted to pass through a route not authorized under the Islamic Republic’s maritime security regulations.
The vessel was engulfed in “massive fires” and brought to a “complete halt” after hitting the mines, the statement read.
“The IRGC Navy once again warns that the fate of vessels that violate the security regulations governing the Strait of Hormuz will be no different,” it added.
Iran closed the chokepoint following the launch of the latest bout of unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against the country on February 28.
The Islamic Republic and the United States agreed on a 60-day reopening period as part of a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding in June, but American violations forced Tehran to reestablish the closure.
Tehran has conditioned reopening of the waterway on realization of a number of prerequisites, including the complete lifting of the US’ illegal naval and economic blockade against the Islamic Republic, durable cessation of aggression on all fronts, including Lebanon, and clarification of the situation concerning the blockade of Yemen.
Recently, Iran and Oman, the strait’s only other coastal state, reached an understanding envisioning a temporary arrangement for transit through the waterway.
According to the Islamic Republic, however, implementation of the understanding hinges on Washington’s fulfilling its commitments towards Tehran.
The IRGC Navy, meanwhile, advised shipping companies not to act on claims made by the United States military regarding the status quo governing the waterway.
“Compliance with the regulations issued by the IRGC Navy governing maritime transit is mandatory. Shipping companies should not fall for provocations by the child-killing US military and should not needlessly put the lives of their crews and their property at risk of destruction,” the force stated.
