Iran Says Two Oil Tankers Halted in Strait of Hormuz
The Guards claimed that the vessels had switched off their navigation and positioning systems and were attempting to exit through the unauthorized route with the support of the US military, which Tehran described as "terrorist."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Friday that two oil tankers had been halted in the Strait of Hormuz after encountering unspecified incidents while attempting to navigate what Tehran considers an unauthorized shipping route.
"Two offending oil tankers, one in the eastern part and the other in the western part of the Strait of Hormuz, which were attempting to pass through the unauthorized route, encountered incidents and were brought to a halt in the waters south of the strait," the IRGC said in a statement.
The Guards claimed that the vessels had switched off their navigation and positioning systems and were attempting to exit through the unauthorized route with the support of the US military, which Tehran described as "terrorist."
The IRGC did not clarify the nature of the incidents or provide further details about the tankers.
The announcement came a day after Iran's armed forces said at least four oil tankers had stopped in the area after striking mines.
According to the IRGC, Friday's incidents occurred after the two vessels received several radio warnings but ignored them.
Iranian forces have instructed ships to follow a designated shipping corridor through the strait and coordinate their passage with the country's armed forces. Tehran considers a southern corridor closer to Oman's coastline unauthorized.
Iran has restricted maritime traffic through the strategic waterway since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States has also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, further limiting Tehran's ability to export oil and conduct international trade.