An oil tanker entered the forbidden eastern waters of the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire after striking naval mines, the Iranian Navy said on Saturday, Nov. 7. The incident, which the navy described as a violation of its warnings, occurred east of the strait where the tanker had turned off its navigation systems while transiting the so‑called “forbidden and unsafe” region.
According to Xinhua, the navy warned that any vessel that ignores its cautions and enters the forbidden areas would face a similar fate. It added that Iran tightened its grip on the strait on Feb. 28, banning safe passage for vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States after they jointly struck Iranian territory.
IRNA English also reported that the Iranian Navy reiterated its warning that vessels violating the restrictions and disregarding its warnings would face similar consequences, though the source’s page could not be accessed.
