The Revolutionary Guard announces that two oil tankers collided with mines in the Strait of Hormuz

Today (Saturday), the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that explosions and fires broke out in two oil tankers after they collided with mines in the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran imposes restrictions on navigation.

Since the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States in February, Tehran has insisted that ships must obtain permission to cross the strait, and has attacked ships that did not comply with this.

A statement issued by the Naval Forces of the Revolutionary Guard said on Friday evening: “Two oil tankers that attempted to secretly cross the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorized passage exploded after they turned off their radar and positioning devices, and they broke out in flames after they collided with naval mines.”

The statement did not specify the names of the two tankers or the flag of which country they were flying, but it indicated that one of them was a giant oil tanker.

On the other hand, in response to Tehran’s restrictions that hinder navigation in this strategic corridor, the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and began providing military support to tankers trying to cross.

In recent weeks, the Iranian Armed Forces have announced explosions or fires on board many ships in the strait, often attributing the cause to their collision with mines. On Friday, the Revolutionary Guard published footage showing a thick column of smoke rising from a ship carrying liquefied gas after it collided with a mine in the southern part of the strait. On the other hand, the US Army confirms that it has cleared the main paths in this waterway of mines. The clouds of war gathered again over the region, after the mutual threats between Washington and Tehran jumped to a new level. US President Donald Trump threatened to resume military operations without hesitation, considering the Iranian rulers’ survival in power after his term a “defeat,” while Tehran promised a response “without any geographic restrictions” to any attack. Trump said he might resume the strikes “now,” noting that his country can destroy Iranian energy facilities, bridges, and factories within three days. He warned the Iranians against assassinating a senior American official, saying that they “will not be around for long,” after he wrote on Thursday: “We do not need an agreement with Iran.” Yesterday, the leaders of the Revolutionary Guard appeared in a funeral ceremony for which the authorities mobilized. Commander-in-Chief Ahmed Wahidi vowed “horrific and painful strikes,” and his deputy, Mustafa Ezdi, said that the attacks “will not be limited to Israel, and will include beyond the region.” Meanwhile, Mossad head Roman Goffman arrived in Washington, amid pressure exerted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume the war, a day after Trump removed his deputy, J.D. Vance, from the negotiations with Iran.