Iranian agency: A fire broke out in another oil tanker east of the Strait of Hormuz

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The Iranian Navy announced that it had monitored another oil tanker that was exposed to fire while trying to cross through a restricted area in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz, after it turned off its tracking systems, according to the Iranian Tasnim Agency, on Friday.

The Navy stated, in a statement issued on Thursday, that its monitoring teams discovered the oil tanker during patrol and surveillance operations in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement explained that the ship had turned off its tracking systems in an attempt to cross through the restricted area.

According to the statement, the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz remains under full control and continuous monitoring by Iranian naval personnel.

On Thursday morning, the Iranian army reported that a fire had broken out in an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman while it was trying to cross a restricted area, according to what state television reported.

The television quoted a military statement: “A few hours ago, the army’s naval forces’ surveillance teams spotted an illegal oil tanker in which a fire broke out.”

He pointed out that "the violating tanker had turned off its tracking systems and tried to pass through the prohibited area," without providing details about the cause of the fire.

Tehran has practically closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war on February 28, following the Israeli-American strikes on Iran. In response, the United States imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Tehran also announced in September the establishment of a “restricted zone” near this vital waterway for global fuel trade, an area that covers part of the Gulf of Oman.

In addition, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's naval forces recently warned that any ship that disrupts its navigation systems while crossing the Strait of Hormuz will be considered "hostile" and will face "strict measures."

Security data indicate a significant increase in attacks targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war.