The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that two oil tankers exploded Monday night while attempting to transit the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway it described as “unsafe and accident-prone.” The vessels, which the IRGC identified as having been “coerced” by the US military, were left immobilized in what the force characterized as a direct consequence of provocative actions challenging Iran’s sovereign control over the strategic maritime corridor.
According to the IRGC statement, the tankers were operating under what it described as “direct pressure and coercion” from American forces and sought to violate designated secure maritime passages. The force framed the incident as a warning against foreign interference in Iranian territorial waters.
“The intervention of the terrorist American army from thousands of kilometers away has no legal legitimacy and will definitely be confronted,” the statement read, addressing the Iranian public.
The IRGC issued a stark warning that as long as “America’s mischief and aggression continue in the region, the passage will not be secure for the transit of chemical substances or even a single drop of oil and gas.” The statement called on US forces to “prepare for punitive operations in response to this illegal transgression.”
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions following joint US and Israeli occupation military operations against Iran that began in February. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes against American assets in Persian Gulf nations, which it has characterized as legitimate retaliation.
A brief Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding last month had appeared to ease tensions, but the latest incident suggests renewed friction over the Strait of Hormuz—a vital chokepoint through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supply transits.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately reported a vessel on fire approximately 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman, corroborating reports of an incident in the area. Details regarding the specific vessels involved or potential casualties remain unconfirmed.
Iran has consistently asserted its sovereign right to secure the Strait of Hormuz, vowing firm measures against any attempts by foreign powers to create insecurity or bypass Iranian oversight. The IRGC Navy has been placed on alert as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Source: Press Tv edited by Al-manar English website