The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, announced early this morning that four more oil tankers were destroyed after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which lies at the heart of the conflict between Tehran and Washington.
The four tankers, which “disregarded” Iranian orders and “attempted to cross the restricted route” in the southern section of the waterway “were destroyed after hitting naval mines and are still burning,” while “two other vessels,” which also “violated” Tehran’s instructions, “were immobilized,” the Revolutionary Guards stated in a communiqué broadcast by Iranian state television IRIB.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
They also reported that they shot down a drone flying over the strait, through which one-fifth of the world’s exported oil and liquefied natural gas passed before the war in the Middle East broke out on February 28.
This announcement was made public a few hours after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed press reports of U.S. airstrikesfrom Monday night into Tuesday on the Iranian island of Qeshm, in the Strait.
Since the start of the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February, Iran has closed this sea route and is targeting ships attempting to cross the strait without its permission.
In retaliation, the U.S. military is imposing a blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf.
Tehran declared on Monday that it was ready to open the strait, provided, however, that Washington accepts a series of its demands, following the escalating threats in recent weeks from the U.S. and Israel to resume large-scale bombings on Iranian territory.
SEE ALSO: Greek-American Chris Papas was elected to the U.S. Senate and made history | AlphaNews
Source: APE-MPE
