An oil supertanker carrying crude oil has reportedly struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a powerful explosion. The incident was announced by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a statement broadcast by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim.
According to the Iranian statement, the vessel was attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz via a route that authorities in Tehran consider unauthorised.
The IRGC claims that the tanker had switched off its navigation and positioning systems while attempting to navigate out of the strategic waterway, Euronews reports.
In its statement, the Iranian side warned of consequences for vessels that, according to its account, violate navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz.
“A terrible fire is the ultimate fate of any tanker that violates the rules and attempts to disregard the safety requirements and regulations of the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
Iranian authorities attributed the explosion to the vessel striking a naval mine. However, they have not yet disclosed the supertanker’s name, the flag under which it was sailing, or the number of crew members on board.
There is also no information available so far regarding possible injuries or fatalities, or the extent of the damage caused by the explosion.
