Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Iranian military outlets say multiple oil tankers catch fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz after incidents they link to “unauthorized” routes. Middle East Eye reports IRGC statements describing tankers taking a Tehran-deemed illicit channel, including one account that a tanker hit a naval mine and exploded, and another that a second vessel suffered an accident and fire while attempting to transit under US-linked protection.
Other outlets report similar Iranian claims of further incidents. Inquirer.net and Iran International say Iran warned ships against cooperating with US forces after IRGC reported three tankers ablaze, while Deutsche Welle also notes Iran’s “non-compliant” framing. Several reports add maritime context about identification systems being turned off and reference a “no-go” or forbidden area east of the strait.
Coverage also includes a US counter-narrative. Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera report US claims that its forces strike or disable vessels in the context of a naval blockade, while Free Press Journal and related reporting mention US Central Command assertions about repeated warnings and blockade breaches. Frames differ between Iranian explanations focused on safety and route violations, and Western coverage that emphasizes blockade enforcement and competing claims of responsibility.
