Fire on oil tanker after collision with mine while transiting a prohibited area east of the Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian navy announced on Thursday that a fire broke out on an oil tanker it described as 'in violation' after it collided with a naval mine while sailing in a prohibited area east of the Strait of Hormuz.

The navy said the Strait of Hormuz is closed to ships attempting to transit from the restricted areas without coordinating with the Iranian naval forces.

The navy warned that ships transiting these dangerous areas without coordination 'endanger their safety', noting that continued patterns of such transit will keep vessels exposed to danger.