Two Oil Tankers Explode in Southern Strait of Hormuz, Iran Blames US Coercion

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated early Monday that two oil tankers exploded and were unable to continue their voyage after attempting to cross an ‘unsafe’ route south of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC claimed the two ships were attempting to traverse the route under ‘pressure and coercion’ from the United States military. In its statement, Iran reiterated a warning that as long as ‘US aggression continues in the region, the route will not be safe for the shipment of fertiliser, oil, or gas.’ Consequently, the IRGC continued, the US military must be prepared to face retaliation for these illegal and unlawful actions. Regional tensions have intensified since the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran in February. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf states hosting US assets. The US and Iran had previously signed a memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan aimed at ending the conflict and achieving long-term peace. However, tensions escalated again last week due to a dispute in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering mutual attacks between the two nations.