Gaza Herald – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Sunday evening that a massive oil tanker collided with a naval mine while attempting to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz. The incident resulted in an explosion within the vessel’s engine compartment. The military wing did not specify the nationality of the ship or the flag it was flying at the time of the collision.
In an official statement released following the event, the Guards clarified that the affected tanker possessed a carrying capacity of approximately two million barrels of crude oil. According to their account, the vessel had attempted to pass through the strategic waterway after disabling its navigation and sailing systems. This action reportedly triggered the contact with the submerged explosive device.
The statement further indicated that the impact caused significant damage inside the engine room. The organization reiterated its previous warnings regarding maritime traffic in the area. They maintained that any ships turning off their tracking systems would be classified as hostile entities by Iranian forces.
Additionally, the Guards claimed that three other oil tankers had struck naval mines since Saturday. These assertions come amidst heightened tensions over freedom of navigation in the region. No immediate comment was issued by independent parties regarding the validity of these claims.
This announcement follows a separate declaration made by United States Central Command late last August. That command stated that international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz were reopened following the removal of Iranian naval mines by American forces. The current incident suggests ongoing challenges in securing safe passage for commercial vessels through this critical chokepoint.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
