BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 31. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Thursday that it had "struck and stopped" two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, alleging they violated Iranian navigation protocols by using an unauthorized route.
In a statement carried by Iran's Fars News Agency, the IRGC said the vessels ignored warnings issued by Iranian forces and were subsequently stopped in the strategic waterway.
The IRGC further claimed that the two tankers were receiving aerial escort from the U.S. military. It also alleged that four other tankers in the strait changed course and returned to their previous positions.
The force warned that any "interference, orders and directives" issued by the U.S. military to commercial vessels in the region "will not go unanswered."
In a separate statement broadcast by IRIB, the IRGC said all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must coordinate with its naval forces.
As of publication, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had not commented on the claims, while the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had not reported any attacks or incidents involving commercial shipping in the area.
The claims could not be independently verified.
