BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Two oil tankers
have caught fire and been forced to halt after striking mines in
the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.
“One oil tanker struck a mine in the eastern approaches to the
Strait of Hormuz, while another hit a mine inside the strait. Both
tankers subsequently caught fire and stopped moving. Both vessels
had attempted to use unauthorised routes,” the IRGC Navy said in a
statement.
The IRGC said the two tankers had switched off their GPS systems
and attempted to navigate an unauthorised route through the Strait
of Hormuz with the support of the US military.
“The Strait of Hormuz has been closed by the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. Nothing will change until Iran’s
seven conditions are met. Attempts by oil tankers to use
unauthorised routes and mine-infested passages will achieve
nothing,” the statement said.
Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated again on
July 8. On that day, the US Armed Forces launched several waves of
strikes against Iranian territory, claiming they were in response
to an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The
strikes marked the first such US military action since a memorandum
was signed between Washington and Tehran.
US President Donald Trump announced the termination of the
ceasefire with Iran later that day.
In response, Tehran began striking US facilities in Bahrain,
Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
The conflict has brought maritime trade through the Strait of
Hormuz to a standstill.
