KATHMANDU: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy has carried out operations against at least seven “violating” oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in the past five days, according to the Iranian news agency Fars.
According to Fars, the IRGC navy has targeted at least one oil tanker every day in the past five days. U.S. President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is open and the U.S. has control over it, but Iran has tightened its control over the waterway, according to reports.
On Friday, two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, according to independent military observer Menchoosint. One of them exploded at the entrance of the waterway and the other at the exit.
According to MenchOsint, Kuwait’s Al Funtas and Kazmiha III, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Sinbad and Mersin Prosperity ships were also attacked in the four-day period.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a series of missile and drone strikes against Israel and US military facilities in the Middle East, following joint military strikes in Tehran.
Since then, Iran has tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, restricting the safe passage of ships directly or indirectly to Israel and the United States, Fars said. The escalating military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, have added to the risks in the international oil supply and energy market.
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