Iran's IRGC: "Three Oil Tankers in Hormuz Hit Mines, Catch Fire"

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on October 29 local time that three oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz struck mines, causing fires.

A ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters-Yonhap.

In a statement, the IRGC said, "Over the past 24 hours, three oil tankers that violated regulations attempted to pass through the unauthorized southern route in the Strait of Hormuz, struck mines and caught fire in explosions." It added, "The vessels had turned off all radar and navigation equipment and ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy."

The timing of the mine strikes and the countries where the tankers were registered were not immediately confirmed. Since the war broke out on February 28, Iran has restricted vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas consumption passes. The United States responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran has also accused U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, of encouraging vessels to use the southern route near Oman. Iran considers the route illegal and has attacked vessels passing through it.

The IRGC Navy warned, "Mines have been laid along the unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz, and shipowners and crew members are responsible for transiting these routes. They should not heed the delusions posted on social media by U.S. Central Command."

Earlier that day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of a fire aboard a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, but provided no details about the cause of the fire or whether there were any casualties.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.