The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has announced that a violating oil tanker struck a naval mine in the southern reaches of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering an explosion and fire in its engine room.

In a statement released early on Monday, the IRGC Navy Public Relations office said the vessel had been attempting to exit the strategic waterway.

From the start of its voyage, the tanker switched off all its positioning and navigation systems and, in clear disregard of the regulations governing the Strait of Hormuz, sought to cross via an unauthorized southern route before encountering the incident.

The IRGC Navy stated that any vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf that deactivate their navigation and identification systems will be met with a firm and decisive response.

Since the onset of the unprovoked US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic, Iranian naval forces have exercised comprehensive control and intelligence dominance over the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard regional security and ensure orderly transit for vessels that coordinate with Iranian authorities.

Iranian officials have repeatedly made clear that the only safe passage through the strait is via routes designated and authorized by the IRGC Navy.

Ships that attempt to evade detection by silencing their systems or that venture into unauthorized corridors do so at their own peril and expose themselves to the defensive measures in place to protect the Islamic Republic’s sovereign rights and the security of the Persian Gulf.

The IRGC Navy has consistently warned commercial operators and shipping companies against heeding false assurances from external actors and against endangering crews by flouting established rules.

Vessels that respect Iran’s regulations and obtain the necessary coordination continue to transit safely, while those that choose defiance face the consequences of their actions.

The IRGC remains fully prepared to uphold the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf with resolve and precision.