Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy reported on Monday that a third supertanker, which it described as “offending,” was struck in the Strait of Hormuz and set ablaze, according to Anadolu.
The navy said the vessel was hit Monday morning after it deactivated its navigation system and ignored warnings.
It alleged that, like previous incidents, the vessel had attempted to leave the strait and disrupt order and security in the waterway.
The statement did not identify the tanker, its flag or operator, or specify how it was struck.
The IRGC navy warned that any cooperation by commercial vessels and oil tankers with the U.S. military in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf would provoke a decisive response.
Separately, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Monday that it had received a delayed report on Sunday describing an incident in the Strait of Hormuz in which an outbound tanker was struck by an unknown projectile.
The crew was reported safe, while the environmental impact remained unknown and authorities were investigating, UKMTO said.
Tehran has threatened to target vessels that use routes other than those designated by Iranian authorities or that attempt to cross the waterway without permission.
The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes across the region, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, after which the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The United States and Iran later signed a memorandum of understanding in June to guarantee freedom of navigation in the strait, but implementation has stalled due to security disagreements in the strategic waterway.
