Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that two oil tankers had been halted after encountering unspecified “incidents” while trying to use a route Tehran considers unauthorised in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the IRGC said one vessel was in the eastern part of the strait and the other in the western part, and both were stopped in waters south of the strait.
The Guards said the tankers had switched off their navigation and positioning systems and, with what it called the support of the “terrorist US military”, were attempting to exit through the route. It did not specify the nature of the incidents. The statement came a day after Iran’s armed forces said at least four tankers had stopped in the area after hitting mines. The Guards said the vessels had received several radio warnings but ignored them.
Iran’s designated route and maritime restrictions
Iranian forces have told vessels to use a designated route through the strait and to coordinate their passage with the country’s armed forces. They have labelled a southern corridor closer to Oman’s shores as unauthorised.
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Iran has restricted maritime traffic through the strategic waterway since the Middle East war began on February 28, when US-Israeli strikes on Iran killed former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
US blockade adds pressure on Iranian trade
The United States has responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports. The measure further restricts Tehran’s ability to export oil and conduct trade.
