Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that two ships were involved in an “accident” after attempting to transit the strait of Hormuz via an “unsafe route”, while two other vessels abandoned that route, according to a report in the Tasnim news agency, which we have not yet been able to independently verify.
The IRGC said the four vessels had ignored Iranian warnings and acted with US backing.
“Vessels that are influenced by the words of the Americans and enter unsafe routes will certainly face accidents,” an IRGC statement read.
The US has urged mariners to travel on the southern route through Oman’s territorial waters to avoid Iran. But Iran has laid out a system of lanes through the north of the strait close to the Iranian coast, and has insisted that all vessels use this route (or face consequences).