Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps navy said Saturday that a "violating" supertanker attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz via an "unauthorized" route suffered a massive explosion after hitting naval mines, Xinhua reported. [E1] Who laid the mines, and whether the Hormuz exit is still open, are unknown.
In a statement published on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said the vessel, carrying crude oil with its navigation and GPS systems switched off, caught fire after the blast, Xinhua reported. [E2] Whether the tanker still floats is unknown.
On 8 October this paper recorded a tanker hit by projectiles north of Qatar; on 4 October it recorded Iraqi crude still moving beyond the strait on a VLCC.
U.S. Central Command forces disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on 10 October after the ship's crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the ongoing naval blockade against Iran. [E3]
A U.S. military fighter jet struck the stern of Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the "Arika Sun", with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship's propulsion without harming the crew. [E4]
The large cargo vessel was attempting to transit regional waters after having previously departed an Iranian port. [E5]
Four commercial vessels have been disabled during three months of strict enforcement. [E7]
135 ships have been turned around in that period. [E7]
U.S. forces have destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' multibillion-dollar shadow network over the same period. [E8]
CENTCOM forces resumed America's blockade against all ships entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14. [E6]