TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The navy of Iran's Army said Saturday a "violating" oil tanker caught fire earlier in the day after hitting naval mines east of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement on the army's website, the navy said the oil tanker had turned off its navigation systems and was transiting the "forbidden and unsafe" region east of the strait, ignoring warnings, when it hit the mines and caught fire.
It warned that the same fate awaits any "violating" vessels that ignores warnings and enters the "forbidden" areas of the waterway.
Iran tightened its grip on the strait on Feb. 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory. ■
