Iran Claims to Disable Tanker Ship After Using Illegal Strait of Hormuz Route  

JAKARTA - Iran on Tuesday said two supertankers were disabled after using a so-called illegal shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz at the urging of the US military.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said in a statement that US forces had encouraged a number of ships to cross a route they called illegal in the strategic waters.

According to the IRGC, the two tankers turned off their navigation systems and ignored repeated warnings from the Hormuz Strait Maritime Security Control Center.

The action, according to the IRGC, endangers other shipping traffic in the region.

The IRGC said the two vessels then tried to cross the mine-laid path before being hit and unable to operate.

However, he did not explain what hit the ship nor directly claim responsibility for the incident.

The IRGC also warned that cooperation with the United States and the use of mined routes could trigger greater damage.

According to them, this action will also delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and deepen the global energy crisis.

Previously, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense stated that two UAE-flagged tanker ships, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles.

Both vessels were attacked while crossing the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Oman's territorial waters, according to the ministry.

The attack killed one Indian crew member on board Mombasa and injured eight others, including four who suffered serious injuries.

The ministry added that a fire had occurred on both tankers, but was extinguished.