Two oil tankers exploded after hitting Iranian mines while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy spokesman said in a statement to state media channel Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Sunday.
The tankers “violated regulations”, the spokesperson said, explaining that they were taking “an unauthorized route through the strait”.
“One of the ships is a supertanker; it is currently engulfed in flames following a powerful explosion,” the statement added.
The IRGC spokesperson added that the tankers had disabled their navigation and identification systems because they wanted to “secretly pass through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the US terrorist army.”
“Following the incident, (the tanker) was immobilized,” he added.
UKMTO: Another tanker hit by projectile in Hormuz
An oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unknown projectile earlier on Sunday, the UK Maritime and Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) said.
The captain of a nearby tanker reported that the other vessel had been struck, the UKMTO said.
The incidents come amid repeated attacks on commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil export routes, since the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran in February.
Iran has struck ships it says violated its passage restrictions in the strategic waterway, as it seeks to assert its control over the strait and exert pressure on Washington.
On Friday, the IRGC navy spokesman said two tankers that had turned off their navigation systems were involved in an incident and stopped in waters south of the Strait of Hormuz, after ignoring radio warnings and attempting to use what he described as an unauthorized route through the strategic waterway.
Iran also said Friday it had destroyed an unmanned U.S. ship in the eastern Strait of Hormuz. There was no immediate confirmation from the US military.
The IRGC also claimed responsibility for Friday’s two attacks on oil tankers.
“Early this morning, an enemy ship operating in the operational zone east of the Strait of Hormuz was struck and destroyed by the brave navy personnel,” an IRGC navy spokesperson said in a statement.
“In addition, two enemy tankers – which had violated regulations by disabling their tracking systems and sailing into prohibited and dangerous waters east of the Strait of Hormuz, despite their warnings – suffered damage and caught fire after hitting naval mines.
“The owners of the tankers will bear full responsibility for all consequences resulting from this unauthorized transit and failure to comply with safety and maritime warnings,” the statement added.
“We warn the enemy that any movement, infiltration or provocative action in areas under the surveillance of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will result in a decisive and proportionate response.”
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