TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said Friday night that two "violating" oil tankers exploded and caught fire within the preceding hour after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through an "unauthorized" route.
In a statement on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the navy identified one vessel as a supertanker and said both had turned off their radar and navigation systems.
It warned shipowners and shipping companies that the same fate awaits those vessels trying to pass through the strait without coordination with its traffic-control center and in disregard of the Iranian regulations.
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. ■
