In a statement, the IRGC Navy said its forces are exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz in line with the order of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei and the Iranian people’s demand for the exercise of sovereignty over the waterway.
It said the IRGC naval forces would not allow “aggressor armies” to be present in the area and would firmly counter enemy attempts to disrupt its management of the strait.
The statement said the incident occurred hours earlier, when the “NV Sunshine”, a giant LPG carrier owned by the company Nhat Viet, was struck while attempting to transit the unauthorized route south of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the vessel suffered a large fire in its engine room and propulsion system.
The IRGC Navy held the US military directly responsible for such incidents and escalating tensions in regional maritime transport. It stated that Washington causes such incidents by interfering in and deceiving shipping and insurance companies and paying large bribes. The statement warned that such bitter incidents will increase if the US interference continues.
The force also warned that companies that have been misled by the US would face sanctions, and that necessary punitive measures would be taken against all vessels belonging to companies found in violation.
The statement added that enforcement against violating vessels would no longer be confined to the Strait of Hormuz. Any vessel using an unauthorized passage would be pursued throughout the region, and punishment would be certain, the IRGC Navy warned.