Iran's Revolutionary Guard Says It Targeted Two Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it targeted two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC described the vessels as 'offending' and said they were trying to use what it called an 'unsafe and dangerous route' south of the strategic waterway. The group accused the United States of coercing the tankers to travel through the area. In a statement, the IRGC declared, 'This is our land, and the intervention of the American terrorist army from thousands of kilometers away has no legal basis and will be dealt with with certainty.' It added that as long as 'America's evil deeds continue in the region, this passage will not be safe for the passage of chemical fertilisers or even a single drop of oil and gas.' The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. The area has been a flashpoint for tensions between Iran and the United States for years. The IRGC did not provide details on the tankers' nationalities or whether any damage occurred. There was no immediate comment from the US military or other officials. The incident marks the latest escalation in the ongoing standoff between Iran and the West over maritime security in the Persian Gulf.