DUBAI — Iran has said a “violating” oil tanker is on fire near the eastern section of the Strait of Hormuz in the second such incident in the area in 24 hours..
An army statement claimed the “rogue tanker” disabled its tracking systems and was attempting to pass through the restricted zone in the Gulf of Oman.
The incident follows new images of a ship reportedly carrying over 2,500 containers sinking after it hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.
Iran’s navy said monitoring teams patrolling the eastern sector of the Strait of Hormuz detected the tanker ablaze in the restricted area, according to a statement cited by the Mehr news agency.
The name, flag and crew condition of the vessel were not immediately known, nor was the cause of the fire.
On Wednesday, Iranian domestic media reported a fire on another tanker near the Strait of Hormuz after it also switched off its tracking equipment.
The incidents follow the sinking of two commercial vessels in the same waters in recent days. The container ship GFS Pride sank on Wednesday after catching fire. All 21 crew members were rescued.
The IRGC said the vessel struck a sea mine, while maritime sources cited an unidentified projectile.
The cargo ship Cape Dao, which had previously been struck by a projectile, also sank. One crew member was killed in the initial attack.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show cargo including mobile phones and luxury goods floating in the water near the Strait of Hormuz, with people in small boats collecting items.
Multiple international media outlets published the footage, as well as separate footage of containers and debris in waters reportedly near the strait. Euronews could not independently verify its veracity.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the region, had not commented on Thursday’s incident as of publication.
Iran’s IRGC declared the waters leading to the Strait of Hormuz a prohibited zone in September, following remarks by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohbi said the zone covered part of the Gulf of Oman and part of the Arabian Sea along the approach to the strait.
Ali Azmayi, commander of the IRGC naval force, said Tehran exercises “smart control” over the strait and that all vessels seeking to transit the route must obtain permission, in response to US statements that the waterway remains open and under Washington’s control.
Tehran has said vessels violating the rules in the area face penalties. Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed in late February at the start of the war with the US, which Washington followed up with its own naval blockade of the key waterway.
Source: Saudi Gazette