Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday claimed responsibility for an attack on a US-owned oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz after alleging the vessel ignored repeated warnings, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
In a statement, the IRGC said the tanker, Safesea Vishnu, owned by an American company and flying the Marshall Islands flag, was targeted in the northern section of the strait in the early hours after failing to comply with multiple warnings.
The guard force warned that maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz faces an increasing level of risk and held the United States accountable for the situation. It also urged commercial vessels to follow Iranian maritime regulations to avoid becoming targets of missile strikes.
On March 2, Tehran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the ongoing US-Israel conflict against Iran. The move has since driven up shipping and insurance costs, pushing global oil prices higher and raising concerns over worldwide economic impact.
The latest attack comes amid continued US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which began on February 28, resulting in approximately 1,300 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
