Violating LPG carrier hits mine in Strait of Hormuz: IRGC
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Friday that a ship passing through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz suffered a massive explosion after hitting a naval mine.
"A few hours ago, a ship carrying liquefied natural gas east of the Strait of Hormuz tried to cross an unauthorized passageway south of the strait, but was hit by a naval mine and exploded violently," the IRGC said on Friday.
In recent weeks, Iran's Armed Forces have repeatedly reported fires or explosions on board ships in the strait after hitting mines.
The US military, however, claims to have cleared the main routes through the waterway of mines.
The IRGC said that the vessel failed to “learn from the fate of previously destroyed oil tankers” and chose to rely on the support of US fighter jets to exit the waterway.
It further stated that the Strait of Hormuz is being managed with the supervision of Iranian forces, adding that any vessel attempting to violate Iranian sovereignty over the strait and ignore warnings issued by the IRGC Navy’s Strait of Hormuz traffic control center by entering unauthorized routes would "meet the same fate as previous vessels."
On Thursday, two other oil tankers violating the regulations also caught fire while attempting to take the illegal route and exit the strait with their radar systems switched off. The offending vessels struck naval mines despite repeated warnings.
The IRGC has repeatedly stated that the unauthorized route near Omani waters is unsafe and that vessels risk striking naval mines while passing through it. The route has been encouraged by the US, which has claimed that it is safe.
Iran imposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, following the US-Israeli attacks on the country. Since then, the strategic waterway has been managed under the control of Iranian naval forces.
Tehran has made clear that the restrictions will remain in place until its demands, including the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports, are met.