Three oil tankers explode while taking unauthorized route through Strait of Hormuz - IRAN

Three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking sea mines while attempting to navigate an unauthorized route south of the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has announced, IRNA reports.

According to a statement published on the IRGC’s website on Thursday, the incidents occurred over the past 24 hours, leaving the tankers stranded along the southern coast of the strategic waterway.

The statement said the vessels had switched off all their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy as they attempted to leave through the unauthorized southern route.
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The IRGC Navy warned that the route was contaminated with mines, holding the vessels’ owners and crews responsible for using it. It also urged them not to rely on “illusions” promoted by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on social media.
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“Facts on the ground will speak for themselves. Any provocative action backed by the aggressive and terrorist US military that disregards the regulations governing the strait will be met with a firm response,” the statement concluded.

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Source of information: Global News Agencies including REUTERS / TASS / AFP / ANADOLU / INT.RU / Al Jazeera / CNN