The IRGC said two oil tankers—one in the eastern and the other in the western part of the strait—had been brought to a halt south of the waterway after they allegedly switched off all navigation systems and tried to exit through an unapproved corridor, supposedly with US military support.
Earlier this week, Tehran’s armed forces announced that four other tankers had stopped after striking mines, and a supertanker carrying two million barrels of oil exploded after hitting a mine while using the same unauthorised route. The third tanker also burst into flames, marking the third fire in the strait on Friday.
Iran has long insisted that vessels must follow a designated path and coordinate with its navy; it has labelled the southern corridor near Oman as unauthorised, a claim that has sparked accusations of piracy from Western navies.
The incidents unfold against a backdrop of a war that erupted on February 28 when US‑Israeli forces struck Iranian targets, killing former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and triggering a US blockade that has tightened restrictions on Iranian oil exports.
In response, Tehran has warned that any ship ignoring its routing instructions will face military retaliation, and it has called on international shipping to respect its maritime rules.