The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says two oil tankers were set ablaze and halted after hitting mines planted along an unauthorized passage south of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement on Tuesday, the IRGC said its navy forces reported that two oil tankers were set ablaze and stopped after mines laid by the naval forces exploded along an unauthorized passage south of the strait.

“The IRGC Navy once again warns that passage through the mined route is illegal and will result in violators’ assets being set ablaze. If the US regime continues its provocations, oil companies will have to pay a heavier price,” it noted.

It added that IRGC air defense forces detected and struck a US military MQ-9 drone overnight as it monitored the airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, destroying the aircraft.

The statement said the IRGC’s naval and aerospace forces continued to monitor regional developments and uphold their commitment to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian people, while exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement praised the Iranian people’s continued resilience and presence in public gatherings for more than 230 consecutive nights, describing their steadfastness as a major victory that has inspired oppressed nations around the world.

Second supertanker explodes after striking naval mine in Hormuz: IRGC Navy

The IRGC Navy says a second supertanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine while attempting to illegally cross the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the onset of the unprovoked US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic, Iranian naval forces have exercised control 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.