Fires Reported on Two Oil Tankers and a Tugboat in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after vessels attempted to use a prohibited route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after travelling through a prohibited route in the strait.
According to the IRGC, an oil tanker attempting to pass through an unauthorised corridor south of the strait was damaged after striking a naval mine. A fire subsequently broke out on board, forcing the vessel to stop.
The IRGC also reported a fire aboard another oil tanker departing from the eastern section of the strait. The fire reportedly spread to a tugboat that approached the tanker to assist. However, the IRGC did not provide details about the cause of the second fire.
Accusing the United States of forcing vessels to disregard instructions and navigate through a mined corridor, the IRGC said the US government was imposing significant costs on American taxpayers and regional allies.
The organisation warned that attempts to violate the rules in the Strait of Hormuz would bring further financial losses and political defeat for the United States.
Two US-Made Drones Seized
The IRGC also announced that it had taken control of two US-made Lucas-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It claimed that the drones were redirected, landed safely without damage and subsequently seized.
