Iran Says It Struck Togo-Flagged Tanker in Strait of Hormuz
IRGC says Trend caught fire and was stopped while attempting what Tehran called an “illegal passage” through the strategic waterway.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says it struck and stopped a Togo-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz after accusing the vessel of attempting an “illegal passage” through the strategic waterway.
The tanker, identified by the IRGC as the Trend, was hit after what Iranian authorities said was an attempt to cross the strait illegally.
In a statement carried by Iran’s official IRNA news agency, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Ozmaei said the tanker had been “incited and deceived” by the US military before attempting to cross the waterway.
“Last night the offending tanker Trend, flying the flag of Togo, intended to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz after being incited and deceived by the American army,” Ozmaei said.
He said the vessel was struck and stopped after a fire broke out on board.
The IRGC Navy said it continued to maintain control of the strategic waterway and would prevent what it described as aggressor forces from passing through the strait.
It also issued a fresh warning to shipowners and crews attempting to use the waterway.
“Illegal passage through the Strait of Hormuz will have no outcome other than the destruction of the offending vessel,” the IRGC Navy said.
The claim came as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a security incident involving a merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
UKMTO said the incident occurred about 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. It did not identify the vessel involved, leaving it unclear whether the incident was connected to the Trend. The agency said the crew was safe and no environmental impact had been reported.
There was no immediate independent confirmation that the Trend was struck by Iranian forces or that the reported fire occurred as described by the IRGC.
Iranian authorities also did not disclose the tanker’s exact location, cargo, the condition of its crew or whether the vessel remained operational after the reported incident.
The claim adds to mounting risks for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes, amid the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The IRGC has maintained that it controls passage through the waterway and has repeatedly warned vessels against attempting unauthorised transit.
The latest statement did not say whether there were casualties or provide further details about the reported strike on the Trend.
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