The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Tuesday, July 21, that two oil tankers attempting to navigate the “southern route of the Strait of Hormuz” suffered severe fires following explosions and were brought to a halt. Concurrently, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was damaged by an “unknown projectile,” forcing its crew to evacuate.
In a statement released by its public relations office, the IRGC labeled the two tankers “violators,” claiming they intended to traverse the “hazardous southern route of the Strait of Hormuz” before catching fire following the blasts. The IRGC also asserted that search and rescue units were in the process of evacuating the crews from the area.
The IRGC Navy issued a warning to shipping companies against using “dangerous” routes, reiterating that as long as US strikes persist, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and “not a single drop of oil, gas, or petrochemical products” will pass through the waterway without authorization from the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, the UKMTO stated that it had received multiple reports regarding a tanker targeted in the southern Strait of Hormuz. According to the advisory, the vessel sustained damage after being struck by an unidentified projectile, compelling the crew to abandon ship using lifeboats. The agency noted that no environmental pollution has been reported thus far, though it did not disclose the name or owner of the tanker.
