IRGC says two tankers abandoned and burning in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday that two tankers it called violators were abandoned in the Strait of Hormuz after a massive explosion sparked fires aboard them. The statement was carried by Iranian media. No vessel names, owners or casualty figures were given.

According to the IRGC, one of the ships was a supertanker that struck a naval mine before an explosion broke out. The guard described the second vessel as operating under the protection of US aggressor warplanes, saying it halted its transit through the strait because of an incident and a fire.

In its statement, the IRGC said both tankers had switched off all navigation and identification systems. It said they struck the fiery wall of the Strait of Hormuz and were abandoned on the southern shores of the strait, still burning.

The IRGC's account is its own. It gave no evidence for the mine claim or for the presence of US aircraft, and neither the vessels nor their operators have been identified.