WANA (Jul 23) – The Public Relations office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued Statement No. 43 today, announcing that a commercial tanker caught fire after attempting to navigate a restricted zone in the Strait of Hormuz, while two other vessels turned back.

 

According to the official statement:

“Three oil tankers, provoked and enticed by the aggressive U.S. military, attempted to navigate through a mined route in the southern Strait of Hormuz. Following a severe explosion and fire on one of the vessels, the other two quickly turned around and retreated.”

 

The IRGC Navy reiterated its firm stance regarding maritime traffic through the vital waterway:

 

“The powerful IRGC Navy emphasizes that the Strait of Hormuz is under our control and remains fully closed as long as U.S. aggression in the region continues. No oil tanker will be permitted to enter or exit, and any vessel deceived by the U.S. that attempts to cross without prior coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran will suffer the same fate.”

 

Addressing the United States directly, the statement issued a stern warning:

 

“We warn the aggressor U.S. to cease its provocations in this sensitive region, endangerment of commercial shipping, and tampering with global energy security. End interventions that bring nothing to the world except energy crises and agricultural fertilizer shortages. These evil acts will yield nothing for you but further discredit and an irreparable defeat that you will soon taste.”

 

The announcement concluded by warning that a “punitive operation” would be carried out in response to the violation.