Oil Tanker Explodes After Hitting Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran has announced that an oil tanker called EL GAIA exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred despite warnings from Iranian authorities about the risks of using the 'forbidden' route south of the waterway.

The IRGC's Navy stated on its official news outlet Sepah News that efforts to contain the fire were unsuccessful, and the entire vessel was engulfed in flames. This comes after Tehran restricted passage through the strategic waterway following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this month.