The naval arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement reported by state media, the IRGC claimed the vessel was attempting to use an unauthorised route through the waterway. The tanker had switched off all positioning and radar systems and tried to pass through the strait by deception, with the support of the "smuggling and terrorist US military", the IRGC Navy said, according to Iran International English.
Strait declared closed
The IRGC said "the Strait of Hormuz is closed" and warned vessels against violating Iranian rules governing passage through the strait. Iran has maintained a chokehold on the critical waterway since the war started more than seven months ago.
The US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28, and Iran retaliated by hitting US bases and allies across the Middle East. Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz and laid mines to deter vessels from trying to transit the waterway, through which about 20% of global oil traded passed before the war.
Spate of mine strikes
The attack on the supertanker is the latest in a spate of mine strikes on vessels in the strait. A UAE-owned cargo ship caught alight and sank on Wednesday after being struck by a mine in the waterway. Footage on social media showed packets of perfume bottles and iPhone boxes floating near the sunken vessel as people fished them out of the water.
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride was carrying the items from Dubai when it caught fire and sank this week after being hit by a projectile. The 21 crew members on board were safely evacuated, according to Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority.
