In brief
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy reported that two oil tankers detonated after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz on an unauthorized route. The incident underscores Iran’s restrictions on vessels and its attempt to assert control over the strategic waterway while exerting pressure on the United States. The report, shared by Iranian state media, comes as part of Iran’s broader policy of targeting ships it deems violators of its maritime rules.
Two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, Iranian state media reported, after the ships struck mines while traveling on an unauthorized route, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said.
The IRGC Navy claimed the mines detonated as the tankers crossed the strategically important waterway, which Iran says it controls and uses to pressure the United States.
Iran has enforced restrictions on vessels that attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and has repeatedly attacked ships it says violate those rules, according to the state‑run news outlet.
While the incident is confirmed by Iranian state media, details such as the exact cause of the explosions and the fate of the crews remain unverified.
