Iran’s IRGC says ‘violating’ supertanker exploded after hitting mines in Hormuz Strait

Iran’s IRGC navy claimed a supertanker exploded after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized route. President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s willingness to negotiate with the United States despite repeated attacks 

Tehran: The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that a “violating” supertanker attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz via an “unauthorized” route suffered a massive explosion after hitting naval mines.

In a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said on Saturday that the vessel, carrying crude oil with its navigation and GPS systems switched off, caught fire after the blast. It said the route had been designated high-risk, warning that such a fate awaits any violating oil tanker seeking to “disregard” Iran’s regulations, reports Xinhua news agency.

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Earlier on Friday, the IRGC navy said its forces had hit a “giant” liquefied petroleum gas carrier identified as NV Sunshine as it sought to cross the strait through an “illegal” route south of the waterway. The vessel’s engine room and propulsion system caught fire, it said. The navy said the US military was responsible for such incidents and rising maritime tensions in the region.

It also warned that actions against violating vessels will no longer be limited to the Strait of Hormuz, and any vessel crossing unauthorized routes will be “punished.”

Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday stressed that his country will not abandon the negotiating table although the United States has attacked it twice amid previous talks between the two sides, according to a statement issued by his office.

In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, Pezeshkian said, “We are negotiating. However, whenever we engage in dialogue with the United States, they attack again. Nevertheless, we will not abandon the negotiating table and dialogue.”

Pezeshkian added that Iran had put forward some proposals, in response to which the United States also presented new proposals, noting, “We have made our revisions to these proposals, and once finalised, the plan is to sit down and conclude them through the existing mediators.”

Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.