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After Iris Dena attack, Iran says its navy struck US oil tanker in Persian Gulf: Report
This reported attack on the American oil tanker comes after a US submarine torpedoed and sank IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean.
After the sinking of Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Thursday, that it has struck an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf.
Iran's Mehr news agency reported an IRGC statement which claims the Iranian Navy struck the US oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf on early Thursday, setting it ablaze. Track live updates on the US-Iran war here
An official statement from the US government regarding the same is awaited.
As per the IRGC, the American ship "was hit by a missile in the north of the Persian Gulf" and "is currently on fire".
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This alleged attack on the US tanker comes hours after Iran vowed to avenge the sinking of its warship.
"The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning," said Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, adding that Washington will "bitterly regret the precedent it has set."
A US submarine, on Wednesday, torpedoed and sank Iranian frigate Dena in the waters near Sri Lanka. This attack came days after the Iranian warship participated in a multi-nation exercise and international fleet review hosted by India in Visakhapatnam. The attack killed 87 people. 32 sailors were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy and several remain lost at sea.
The attack on the oil tanker, which has not been independently confirmed, also came as the IRGC said they had "full control" of the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and is a vital oil and gas transit route.
As per the Iranian Guards, the Strait of Hormuz is only open for China and Russia. US, Israel, Europe flagged ships and ships from countries backing them will be prohibited from using the key route and will not be allowed to pass.
