A massive explosion was reportedly heard in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed an oil supertanker carrying around two million barrels of oil struck a naval mine. The IRGC accused the vessel of ignoring Iran’s designated shipping routes and switching off its navigation systems while attempting to exit the strategic waterway. Iran warned ships that defied its restrictions would face “horrific fire,” raising fresh concerns over commercial shipping and global energy supplies. The tanker’s identity, the condition of its crew and possible casualties remained unknown, while the reported mine strike and circumstances surrounding the blast had not been independently confirmed. The incident comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s control of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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