IRGC Navy: Three oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz illegally have burned

The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on 3 November that three oil tankers attempting to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz had burned.

The statement said: "Since this morning, three oil tankers that attempted to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz have burned." No information was given on the names or flags of the tankers, the condition of their crews or the cause of the fires.

Earlier, on 29 October, the IRGC Navy said that over the previous 24 hours three tankers had exploded and caught fire after striking mines on a southern route near the coast of Oman that Iran considers unauthorised. That statement said the vessels had switched off their radar and navigation systems, ignored IRGC warnings, that the route was mined and that responsibility for transiting it lay with ship owners and crews.

On 30 October, the IRGC announced that a fourth tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil had hit a mine, suffered a powerful explosion and was burning. On the same day, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile about 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island, causing a fire on board, and that the crew were safe.

On 2 November, the IRGC said another tanker had hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, while the British Royal Navy reported an attack on a vessel near the coast of Oman. On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei declared that the Strait of Hormuz would not be safe unless the naval blockade was lifted.

Since late February, Iran has severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. About one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes through the waterway.