Iran claims that two tankers have been immobilized in the Strait of Ormuz

A Iran's Revolutionary Guard today declared that two oil tankers were immobilized after incidents in the Ormuz Strait in an area where attacks have been multiplied while the diplomatic impasse between Washington and Tehran is maintained.

In a statement, the Revolutionary Guard said that the two tankers were in an irregular situation, one in the eastern part and the other in the western part of the Strait of Ormuz, adding that they were trying to follow an unauthorized route.

The two ships “involved in incidents and were immobilized in waters to the south,” the same document also indicated.

According to the Revolutionary Guard, the vessels had disabled all navigation and positioning systems and, with the support of the U.S. Army — classified as a terrorist by Tehran — they tried to leave, ignoring the warnings that were transmitted to them via radio.

The nature of the “incidents” has not been specified, but Iran often uses this type of terminology to refer to ships that have already been attacked or hit by sea mines in the area.

On Thursday, four oil tankers burned down after colliding with sea mines in the same area, according to the Iranian Armed Forces.

UKMTO has reported two attacks without further details.

The Strait of Ormuz, bounded north by the Iranian coast and south by the Sultanate of Oman, is about 30 kilometres wide at the narrowest point.

Iran claims control of the maritime route through which one-fifth of world hydrocarbons moved before the war triggered by Israeli and American attacks on Tehran in late February.

The country usually targets vessels sailing through the region without authorization along the coast of Oman.

In response, Washington imposes a blockade on Iranian ports and escorts oil tankers along the route, while negotiations between the two countries are at a standstill.