Ships near the Strait of Hormuz. This image is not directly related to the article. [Getty Images]
Ships near the Strait of Hormuz. This image is not directly related to the article. [Getty Images]

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Thursday (local time) it attacked a Togolese-flagged oil tanker attempting to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire on board.

The IRGC Navy said through state media Friday that the stricken tanker came to a stop after catching fire, Yonhap said.

According to China's Xinhua news agency, the IRGC Navy also said in a statement issued through its affiliated outlet Sepa News that the Togolese-flagged tanker Trend had been deceived by US forces into attempting to pass "illegally" through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian military said it still controls the Strait of Hormuz and will not permit passage by any aggressor.

Iran, which is at war with the United States, has been asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz and attacking merchant vessels that pass through without authorization.

IRGC earlier claimed supertanker struck mine

Earlier, on Monday (local time), the IRGC Navy said a supertanker attempting to pass through a controlled zone at the southern end of the Strait of Hormuz struck a mine and exploded.

In a statement issued through Sepa News, the IRGC Navy said the supertanker EL GAIA, with maritime registration number 9325336, "struck a mine after ignoring prior warnings about the dangers of illegal passage and attempting to enter the zone," Yonhap said at the time.

According to the European Quality Shipping Information System, the vessel is a Panama-registered tanker of 28,779 tons.

The Revolutionary Guard said "firefighting efforts have come to nothing, and the entire tanker is currently engulfed in flames."

The statement also declared: "We firmly declare that the Strait of Hormuz is now blockaded and is under our thorough intelligence surveillance and control."


yul@heraldcorp.com