Tehran [Iran], October 12 (ANI): The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy on Monday said that it hit a third supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering an onboard blaze after failing to comply with maritime directives.
According to Press TV, the IRGC Navy confirmed that "the third violating supertanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz this morning, sparking a fire on board".
The Iranian naval force stated that "the tanker had switched off its navigation system and ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy before attempting to leave the strait and disrupt order and security there, like the two previous vessels," Press TV reported.
The incident marks the third vessel targeted in the strategic waterway within 48 hours.
Earlier on Sunday, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal said two Indian nationals remain missing after the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was subjected to a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage on October 11, while nine crew members have been rescued and are safe.
In a post shared on X, Sonowal said search-and-rescue operations were underway by the local Coast Guard and that Indian authorities were coordinating with the relevant agencies to support efforts to locate the missing seafarers.
“On Oct 11, tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was subjected to a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage. While nine of our Indian crew members have been successfully rescued and are safe, two Indian nationals currently remain missing. Search-and-rescue operations are actively underway by the local Coast Guard. We are continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities to fully support the ongoing rescue efforts and ensure every possible action is taken to safely locate our missing personnel,” Sonowal said.
The Embassy of India in Oman also said it was closely monitoring the situation and remained in contact with the concerned authorities.
In a separate post on X, Sonowal said all 11 Indian seafarers aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker M/T Valthera were safe after the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on October 11, resulting in a fire onboard.
“On Oct 11, Marshall Islands-flagged tanker M/T Valthera, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in an onboard fire. Thankfully, all 11 of our Indian crew members are reported to be safe. We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in contact with the ship management company to ensure ongoing safety and wellbeing of our seafarers,” Sonowal said.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei asserted that Tehran maintains total control over the crucial energy corridor, warning that security cannot return to the region as long as foreign military aggression and economic blockades persist.
Dismissing the American account of the situation, Baghaei emphasised that market realities contradict Washington's official narrative. "The claims of the Americans do not correspond to what we see on the ground," Baghaei stated. "They can continue to say that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer effective and Iran has lost its leverage; we are also doing our own thing.
The incidents come amid a series of reported attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf region as tensions in the region continue
Earlier, on October 9, the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT GEM NO. 2, carrying 22 Indian nationals, was subjected to a drone attack at Sharjah Anchorage. Sonowal had said all 22 Indian seafarers on board were safe. (ANI)
IRGC Navy says it hit third supertanker in Strait of Hormuz
