BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 19. A tanker struck a
naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, causing an
explosion and fire in the vessel’s engine room.


The incident was reported by the naval forces of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of Iran’s armed
forces.


“The tanker, which violated the established rules, was damaged
after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of
Hormuz. An explosion and fire occurred in the vessel’s engine
room,” the statement carried by Iranian state television and radio
said.


According to the IRGC Navy, the vessel was attempting to leave
the strait after switching off all positioning and navigation
systems and disregarding the established rules for passage through
the waterway.


The IRGC warned that strict and decisive measures would be taken
against vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz with their
navigation and identification systems switched off.