An oil tanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine in a restricted and unsafe area in the eastern Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, according to the Iranian Navy.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Navy’s public relations office said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day in a prohibited maritime zone in the eastern part of the strategic waterway.
The statement said that the Army Navy is closely monitoring and maintaining control over the eastern Strait of Hormuz, adding that safe passage through the waterway requires coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and compliance with maritime regulations.
It also reiterated its warning to ship owners to observe these requirements to ensure safe navigation through the strait.
On Tuesday, three oil tankers attempting to navigate a similar route suffered massive explosions and were left ablaze.
The Iranian Armed Forces have maintained full control over transit through the Strait — responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil delivery — requiring prior authorization and confining safe passage exclusively to designated northern corridors.
Southern routes near Omani waters have been declared unauthorized and mined, with repeated IRGC Navy statements confirming that vessels attempting to use them after disabling AIS systems have struck mines, exploded, and caught fire.
IRGC Navy units have repeatedly intercepted or neutralized ships attempting covert transit, including those linked to the Israeli regime or operating under US encouragement.
IRGC commanders maintain that empty American promises of escort and protection have repeatedly proven hollow, as vessels trusting such assurances have been halted or destroyed.
Iran says only ships complying with its rules can transit safely, while those serving the interests of the aggressors face decisive consequences.
The Islamic Republic imposed the restrictions in response to the latest round of US-Israeli aggression, which began on February 28.
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