Tehran, 08 November (H.S.): Three oil tankers caught fire following explosions in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to a claim by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, the IRGC did not disclose the names or nationalities of the vessels.

According to an IRGC statement, the three tankers were passing through a route in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has declared illegal, allegedly in violation of designated regulations, early on Sunday. Explosions occurred aboard the vessels during their passage, triggering fires.

Meanwhile, UAE state media reported that 22 people were rescued from a vessel that caught fire in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. All those rescued were said to be in stable condition.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime security agency, said that a tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday. According to the agency, military authorities reported the incident, following which the crew were safely evacuated. A separate incident involving another tanker, which was reportedly struck by an unidentified object on Saturday, was also reported.

Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, Tehran has imposed stringent restrictions on the movement of vessels through this strategically important maritime passage. Iran maintains that ships transiting the strait must use routes authorised by the Islamic Republic. In response, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and has been assisting tankers in navigating safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar