Washington DC [US], July 27: An oil tanker has reportedly struck a sea mine and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Sunday.
The tanker had strayed from a designated route, according to the Defapress and Tasnim news agencies, which are close to the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guards. The vessel had previously switched off its radar system, the agencies said. No further details were given.
Neither the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for the region, nor the British maritime security authority UKMTO has confirmed the incident.
The Strait of Hormuz plays a key role in global energy trade. Iran requires commercial vessels to adhere to a designated passage through the strait and claims control over the waterway.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has halted six commercial ships from passing the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Tasnim news agency on Sunday.
Tasnim, which is linked to the IRGC, said the organization was enforcing control over an area of 240,000 square kilometres in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC stated that no vessel would be allowed to pass without complying with Iranian regulations. It also warned that any attempts by the US military to alter the course of ships would be met with "a decisive response and warning shots." Tanim reported that the affected ships had turned back.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai appeared to contradict the Tasnim report, telling English-language state broadcaster PressTV that there had been no change in shipping conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghai pointed to ongoing bilateral discussions with officials from Oman, whose territorial waters extend into part of the crucial waterway.
The dispute over navigation rights along the vital corridor for oil, natural gas, and fertilizer exports is one of the main triggers for the latest escalation in the military confrontation between Iran and the United States.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said it is continuing its naval blockade against Iran.
CENTCOM said it had "redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn't comply, and boarded 2″.
US forces also halted a ship in the Gulf of Oman from transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday "after the crew attempted to violate the blockade multiple times and ignored repeated warnings".
The US is enforcing a naval blockade on Iran, while there have been a series of attacks by Iranian forces on ships using a southern route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran threatens to broaden conflict
The Iranian military on Sunday threatened to widen the scope of its operations if the United States continues airstrikes on the country. Military spokesman Amir Akraminia was referring to attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement on shipping in the Red Sea, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.
According to Mehr, Akraminia said the conflict zone currently stretched from Jordan to the countries bordering the Persian Gulf. He warned that if US forces resumed their airstrikes, the area of conflict would be expanded further.
The Iranian military has already prepared the necessary strategies, Akraminia said, according to the report. He added that the military was ready for other possible scenarios, including a large-scale US air campaign or a US ground offensive.
According to Akraminia, Iran has temporarily suspended its attacks on US Arab allies after US forces refrained from airstrikes over the previous two nights. He said the decision reflected Iran's position that its military actions are intended solely as retaliation, implying that further Iranian attacks would depend on US military action.
Source: Qatar Tribune
