An oil tanker caught fire on Saturday afternoon after striking naval mines while navigating a restricted maritime zone east of the Strait of Hormuz, the Public Relations Department of the Iranian Army’s Naval Force announced.
According to the Iranian military statement, the tanker had violated maritime restrictions and ignored repeated warnings before entering the designated unsafe area, where it struck the naval mines.
The incident underscores Tehran’s determination to enforce its maritime regulations and maintain control over the security arrangements governing navigation through the strategically important waterway.
Rejecting what it described as false claims by the US president, the Iranian Army stressed that the Islamic Republic’s policy on managing the Strait of Hormuz remained unchanged, reaffirming its position despite mounting US pressure and rhetoric.
The statement called on all vessels, particularly oil tankers and commercial ships, to comply fully with Iranian maritime warnings, respect restricted zones, and refrain from entering designated unsafe areas. It also instructed vessels to switch off their identification and tracking systems.
Tehran’s latest warning reinforces its insistence that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz must abide by the security measures and regulations it has established in the area.
The Iranian military did not disclose the identity of the tanker or provide further details about the extent of the fire or possible casualties.
Source: Al-Manar English Website