TEHRAN, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The navy of Iran's Army announced Sunday that a "violating" oil tanker caught fire after hitting naval mines east of the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the day.
In a statement on the army's website, the navy said the oil tanker had turned off its identification systems and was transiting the "forbidden" region east of the strait when it hit the mines.
It warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to vessels unless all threats are lifted.
Earlier in the day, the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said an oil tanker caught fire within the preceding hours after colliding with naval mines in the "unauthorized" route of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said the explosion caused a massive fire on the vessel, which was the third oil tanker to hit naval mines in the strait's "unauthorized" route since the beginning of the day.
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. The United States has also imposed a naval blockade against the country. ■
