Supertanker explodes after striking mine in Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Revolutionary Guards say

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Saturday that an oil supertanker struck a naval mine and exploded while attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorized southern route. In a statement, the IRGC said the vessel, which it described as a supertanker capable of carrying around 2 million barrels of oil, had switched off its navigation systems before attempting to cross the strategic waterway. The tanker struck a mine while trying to exit through the alternative route, triggering an explosion visible from coastal areas, it said. The IRGC warned that "the fate of every vessel that ignores the rules in the Strait of Hormuz is a horrific fire." There was no immediate information about the vessel's identity, crew or possible casualties. A day earlier, Iranian state television reported heavy explosions in the strait, citing military sources as saying that oil tankers using routes Tehran considers unauthorized may have struck mines in the southern passage. Iran announced July 12 that it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz following the resumption of US attacks on July 8. Tehran has also threatened to target vessels that use routes other than those designated by Iranian authorities or attempt to transit the strait without permission. The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28 that killed more than 3,000 people, according to Tehran. Iran retaliated with attacks that killed Americans and Israelis before a ceasefire was reached in April. The US subsequently carried out further strikes on Iranian sites amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran, despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding in mid-June. Talks have remained deadlocked over disagreements concerning navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy and commodity supplies.