Iranian Military Claims Two Oil Tankers Exploded While Attempting to Pass Through Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran claimed that two oil tankers exploded while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on the night of July 19, local time.

In a statement released on July 20, the Revolutionary Guard announced, "Late last night, two oil tankers violated regulations by attempting to enter and exit through a dangerous and high-risk waterway south of the Strait of Hormuz due to the incitement and coercion of the U.S. military, resulting in explosions that halted their operations."

The statement further warned, "The intervention of the terrorist U.S. military has no legal justification, and we will respond to it firmly and decisively," adding, "As long as the U.S. military's evil acts continue in the region, the passage of any chemical fertilizers, oil, or gas through the strait will not be safe."

While the Revolutionary Guard did not disclose the cause of the explosions, it threatened, "The aggressor forces should be prepared for our punitive operations against this illegal violation," suggesting the possibility of an attack by Iranian forces.

The previous day, the Revolutionary Guard had announced that "two oil tankers attempting to secretly pass through the Strait of Hormuz were involved in an accident and have stopped."

It has not been confirmed whether the two ships mentioned in today's claim are the same tankers.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that it received information from military authorities at 2:15 a.m. on July 20, Iran time, that a fire had broken out on a vessel in waters approximately 15 km off the Musandam Peninsula of Oman, located in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz.

The UKMTO added that the cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.