Baghdad: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has announced the interception and seizure of four oil tankers identified as “violating” vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, which took place early Saturday, involved the use of missiles and drones to halt the tankers’ progress.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy issued a press release detailing the incident. The statement indicated that the vessels, allegedly supported by the US military, were stopped during their attempt to traverse the strategic waterway. The operation underscores ongoing tensions in the region, with the Iranian forces highlighting the involvement of advanced military technology in the interception.

The press release also contained a warning to ship owners and leaders from southern Gulf states, urging them not to rely on what the Iranian military termed as the “flimsy support” of the US military. It emphasized the importance of adhering to the directives and warnings issued by the Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy to avoid such confrontations.

In a related development, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously reported on Friday that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire while navigating through a minefield located south of the Strait of Hormuz. This incident further highlights the precarious nature of maritime navigation in this geopolitically sensitive region.