Oil Tanker Collides with Mine in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran Accuses of Violating Regulations

Tehran, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : An oil tanker collided with a sea mine in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire aboard the vessel. The Iranian Navy reported on Wednesday that the tanker had violated maritime regulations, leading to the incident.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the collision occurred early Wednesday as the tanker was navigating through an “unsafe and restricted” area east of the strait. The Iranian Navy emphasized that its forces are continuously monitoring the waters in this region. They stressed that safe passage through this waterway requires coordination with Iranian armed forces and adherence to maritime laws.

In a related statement, Ali Abdollahi, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, warned the United States and Israel against making further mistakes. He stated that any location posing a threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran would be directly targeted by disproportionate military operations.

In his message released by Iranian media, Abdollahi affirmed that the armed forces would unhesitatingly follow any orders issued by the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

This incident follows a claim made by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy on Tuesday, stating that two oil tankers passing through an “unauthorized route” in the Strait of Hormuz experienced significant explosions. The IRGC reported that both tankers had turned off all navigation and identification systems before catching fire and becoming immobilized.

One tanker reportedly exploded after striking a naval mine, while the other, allegedly supported by U.S. fighter jets, caught fire following a separate incident.

The IRGC Navy reiterated its warning that “unauthorized routes” in the strait are unsafe. They cautioned that any vessel attempting to navigate this path with U.S. military assistance could face similar consequences.

On February 28, Iran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, restricting the safe passage of vessels associated with or supported by the U.S. and Israel after joint attacks on Iranian territory.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most crucial maritime trade routes, where any tension can significantly impact global oil supply and international trade.