Iranian Revolutionary Guard Says Strait of Hormuz Completely Closed, Two Oil Tankers Explode and Catch Fire

Odaily reported that on the 18th, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire while passing through a mined area in the southern Strait of Hormuz. The statement claimed that due to recent US military operations, the Strait of Hormuz has been "completely closed," and until the US ceases its military actions against Iran, the strait cannot be used for oil and gas transportation. Vessels should avoid entering the mined area. The statement did not disclose the nationalities of the two oil tankers, nor the casualties or damage. (Jinshi)