Rome:Tehran Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that a fourth oil tanker struck a mine and caught fire while passing through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the supertanker was carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil and ignored repeated radio warnings against using the southern passage through the strategic waterway. The mine triggered a powerful explosion, leaving the vessel burning.

The IRGC stated that the tanker attempted to exit the strait through what it described as an unauthorized southern route. This incident marks the fourth time a tanker has caught fire in the strait since early Friday.

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile 40 nautical miles south of Iran's Lavan Island at 1800GMT. The projectile hit the vessel's port side, causing a fire onboard. The UKMTO noted that the crew was safe and no environmental impact was reported, but it was unclear if this incident was related to the one reported by the IRGC.

In recent weeks, several incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the strait have been reported by Iranian authorities, including tankers allegedly damaged by naval mines. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Tensions in the area have persisted following attacks by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, leading to Iranian retaliation across the region. Despite diplomatic efforts and a memorandum signed by Washington and Tehran in June, disputes over maritime security and navigation arrangements in the strait continue.