Malta-flagged tanker struck near Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Saturday that a drone struck an oil tanker in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz after the vessel ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy, Tasnim News Agency reports.

The IRGC’s Public Relations Office said the tanker, named Prima, was targeted after disregarding repeated warnings about the prohibition of passage and unsafe conditions in the strait.

According to the IRGC statement issued March 7, the vessel was struck earlier in the day after failing to comply with warnings from the IRGC Navy regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian authorities said the tanker continued its passage despite alerts about restrictions and safety concerns in the waterway.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported that the incident occurred Saturday morning, saying the tanker was targeted with a drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC Navy.

The report identified the vessel as Prima, an oil and chemical tanker sailing under the flag of Malta.

According to the Marine Traffic website, Prima is registered as an oil and chemical tanker.

The IRGC said the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been under its control for the eighth consecutive day following what it described as military aggression by the U.S. against Iran.

The statement said the situation followed the death of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ali Khamenei in what it described as a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Tehran on Feb. 28.

Iranian authorities said oil tankers and commercial vessels allied with countries hostile to Iran are not permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said the restrictions came after U.S. military deployments to the Persian Gulf and what it described as unprovoked attacks against Iran.

- Türkiye Today