Strait of Hormuz: Three tankers ignite after mine strikes
Iran's IRGC blames vessels for using a southern route that Washington recommended after declaring the waterway clear of mines in late August.
By Olga Kaur ·
Three oil tankers exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that the vessels struck naval mines while attempting to cross what it called the unauthorized southern route.
According to the IRGC Navy's public relations office, the ships subsequently ran aground on the southern coast of the strait.
The United States has encouraged shipping companies to use this southern maritime path. President Trump declared the waterway free of mines at the end of August. Iran maintains that vessels must travel through northern routes closer to its coast under the coordination of Iranian authorities.
The IRGC stated that the tankers had switched off all radar and navigation systems. The group described this as a common practice among ships trying to avoid blockades imposed by either the United States or Iran in the strait and surrounding waters.
The IRGC claimed the ships ignored Navy warnings while attempting to exit via the southern route. Teheran held the ship owners and crews responsible for using a path against which the government had warned for months.
Source: Latin Opinion
