Tehran: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its naval forces targeted and seized a Togo-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the tanker was targeted on Thursday night and caught fire before being stopped by Iranian forces.
IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Azmi claimed that the tanker had attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz using a route different from one designated by Iran, allegedly at the urging of the US military.
He said the vessel was subsequently targeted and brought under control.
Iranian authorities have not provided further details about the tanker’s exact location, the weapons allegedly used in the operation, the number or nationality of crew members, or the cargo on board.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important maritime passage through which a significant share of the world’s oil shipments passes.