Iran says LPG carrier struck, catches fire while crossing Strait of Hormuz via 'illegal' route

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Friday that a liquefied petroleum gas carrier was struck and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via an "illegal route." "A giant ship carrying LPG gas called NV Sunshine belonging to the Natwit company, which was trying to cross the illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz, was hit and suffered a massive fire in the engine room and propulsion system," the IRGC said in a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The statement blamed "the aggressor American army" for escalating tensions in regional maritime transport. The Revolutionary Guard also said its naval forces would not allow "invading forces" to remain in the area and would counter "any enemy attempts to disrupt its management." The reported incident came amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has warned vessels against using routes not authorized by Tehran.