According to CBS News, on October 29 local time, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard stated that three oil tankers were hit by mines while attempting to pass through the Hormuz Strait via an 'unauthorized southern route', resulting in explosions and fires.
In a statement, the Naval Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran said that the accident occurred within the past 24 hours, and the involved vessel was then stranded on the south shore of the strait.
The United States has always encouraged shipping companies to use the southern route of the Hormuz Strait for navigation. U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the end of August that this route “has no mines”.
The Iranian side insists that ships can only navigate through the channel north of the Iranian coast, which is under Iranian control, and must coordinate with Iranian authorities.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard further stated: "These oil tankers disabled all their radar and navigation systems. Despite the warnings from the Revolutionary Guard Navy, they attempted to leave via the unauthorized southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a collision with a mine and an explosion."
shutting down the equipment is a common practice for ships when navigating through and around the straits, in order to avoid being cut off by the United States or Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Iran stated that Tehran has been warning against using this route for several months, and the shipowners and crew must bear responsibility for this.
