The Iranian Revolutionary Guard warns ships in the Strait of Hormuz: Disabling navigation systems will make them “hostile”

Tehran - Ofoq News - The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has escalated its warnings to commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, at a time when the region is witnessing a noticeable increase in accidents and attacks targeting shipping traffic.

The Revolutionary Guard Navy said, according to what was reported by Iranian media, that ships that turn off their navigation and positioning systems while crossing the strait, or ignore the rules and routes determined by Iran, may be treated as enemy ships, stressing that it will deal with them “firmly.”

The warning came after the Revolutionary Guard announced, on Saturday evening, that a giant oil tanker had been subjected to an explosion after colliding with a sea mine while trying to exit the Strait of Hormuz through what Iran described as an “unauthorized route.”

According to the Iranian account, the tanker was capable of carrying about two million barrels of oil, and had turned off its navigation and positioning systems before entering the route, which Tehran considered high-risk. The Revolutionary Guard said that it collided with a mine, causing a large explosion and a fire on board.

The Revolutionary Guard Navy warned that the fate of any tanker that “ignores the security and rules” of the Strait of Hormuz could be similar, indicating the possibility of continued military dealings with ships that use routes that Iran does not approve of.