Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says two oil tankers attempting to navigate an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz have suffered massive explosions and have been left in flames.

In a statement on Tuesday, the IRGC Navy’s public relations office said one of the vessels, identified as a supertanker, hit a naval mine and suffered an explosion.

The second tanker, which was apparently operating under the protection of US military aircraft, encountered an incident and caught fire while attempting to secretly cross the waterway through an illegal route, it added.

The statement said both vessels had switched off all their navigation and identification systems before attempting the passage.

The IRGC Navy warned that the unauthorized route is unsafe and that vessels cooperating with US forces would face similar consequences if they attempted to use it.

Iranian forces have maintained full control over transit through the Strait — through which roughly one-fifth of global oil normally passes — requiring prior authorization and confining safe passage exclusively to designated northern corridors.

Southern routes near Omani waters have been declared unauthorized and mined, with repeated IRGC Navy statements confirming that vessels attempting to use them after disabling AIS systems have struck mines, exploded, and caught fire.

IRGC Navy announces halt to oil smuggling via illegal Strait of Hormuz passage: Report

A report by Fars News Agency, citing an informed source in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, said no unauthorized vessels managed to enter the illegal passage overnight following the destruction of the navigation systems.

IRGC Navy units have repeatedly intercepted or neutralized ships attempting covert transit, including those linked to the Israeli regime or operating under US encouragement.

IRGC commanders have stressed that empty American promises of escort and protection have repeatedly proven hollow, as vessels trusting such assurances have been halted or destroyed.

The force has underscored that only ships complying with Iranian rules can transit safely, while those serving the interests of the aggressors face decisive consequences.

Iran imposed the restrictions on the strait in response to the latest round of US-Israeli aggression, which began on February 28.