ALWAGHT- The IRGC Navy has warned that it will take firm action against commercial ships and oil tankers operating in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf in coordination with US forces, accusing the US military of terrorism and resource exploitation.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Monday that a third crude oil supertanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz within two days after allegedly ignoring warnings and disabling its navigation system while attempting to leave the waterway. The force accused the vessel of threatening security in the strategic passage and warned that commercial ships cooperating with US forces in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would face a decisive response.
The announcement followed two similar incidents over the preceding days. On Sunday, the IRGC Navy reported that a supertanker struck a naval mine in the southern part of the strait, triggering an explosion and a fire in its engine room. A separate tanker reportedly caught fire a day earlier after taking what the force described as an unauthorized and dangerous route. On October 9, Iranian naval forces also struck a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier allegedly attempting to use an illegal passage south of the waterway.
Iran has restricted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli war began on February 28, with a ceasefire taking effect in early April. Vessel movements through the strategic waterway have dropped sharply amid the restrictions and continuing tensions. Tehran has said it will not restore normal passage until Washington meets its demands and takes steps to rebuild Iran's trust.
