Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, has claimed that an oil tanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil caught fire after striking a mine while attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz.
The Guards said on Saturday that the vessel exploded and burst into flames after allegedly attempting to cross the strategic waterway without authorisation amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Iran tightened its control over the strait following the outbreak of the war in late February, disrupting a key shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption normally passes.
In a statement, the IRGC said the tanker was violating regulations when it attempted to transit the waterway.
“A supertanker in violation of regulations, carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and attempting to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz, struck a mine, triggering an explosion and a fierce fire,” the Guards said.
However, the statement did not disclose the precise location of the incident or provide further details about the vessel.
The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran to the north and Oman to the south, measures approximately 30 kilometres (20 miles) across at its narrowest point and serves as one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments.
Since asserting control over the waterway, Tehran has insisted that vessels obtain its approval before passing through the strait.
The IRGC further alleged that the tanker attempted to cross with American support while concealing its movements by switching off its tracking systems.
“The tanker attempted to cross the strait with US support… by deactivating all its tracking systems,” the Guards said, alongside a video purportedly showing a vessel engulfed in flames at night.
The development comes as Washington maintains a naval counter-blockade targeting Iranian oil exports in response to Tehran’s restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier this week, the Guards’ naval commander, Admiral Ali Ozmai, warned that any vessel that switched off its navigation systems would be treated as “hostile”.
Oil tanker bursts into flames after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz