Iran's Revolutionary Guards say tankers exploded in Hormuz shipping lane

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said early Monday that two oil tankers exploded in an "unsafe shipping lane" south of the Strait of Hormuz. Both vessels were left immobilized after the blasts, according to the IRGC.

The paramilitary force accused the US military of forcing the ships to transit the route under "pressure and coercion." The statement warned that Washington would face retaliation for this "illegal transgression" and that the passage would remain insecure for fertilizers, oil or gas while "US aggression" continues.

Verification and context

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said military authorities had reported a vessel on fire approximately 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman. The cause of the blaze had not been verified, according to the agency.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran in February, prompting Iranian retaliation with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf nations hosting US assets. The US and Iran signed a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding last month to end their conflict, but tensions flared again last week over the Strait of Hormuz as the two sides exchanged attacks.