Iranian state-linked Fars News Agency has released images and video of a burning supertanker it identifies as the third vessel struck in the Strait of Hormuz within the last two days. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claimed the ship was hit after its crew disabled the navigation system, ignored repeated navy warnings, and attempted to exit through an unauthorized route. According to the IRGC statement, the tanker was trying to leave the strategic waterway in defiance of Iranian controls, resulting in a powerful explosion and intense fire visible from coastal areas. The images circulated by Fars show thick smoke rising from the vessel as it sits in the strait. Officials described the incident as part of a pattern of enforcement actions against ships that turn off tracking systems or use disputed southern lanes. No independent confirmation of the vessel’s name, flag, or exact cargo was immediately available, and casualty details remained unclear.

These reported strikes occur against a backdrop of sharply heightened US-Iran maritime tensions, including an active American naval blockade and repeated IRGC warnings that vessels using unauthorized routes will face consequences. UK Maritime Trade Operations has separately noted projectile strikes on outbound tankers in the same period that caused fires, though the precise link to the Iranian claims is not established. The IRGC has warned that any commercial ship cooperating with what it calls the “aggressor U.S. military” in the strait risks a firm response. The succession of incidents has further complicated navigation through the critical oil chokepoint, where both sides continue to assert competing control. As images of the latest burning tanker spread, shipping companies and governments are watching closely for signs of further escalation or environmental impact. The full circumstances of the third strike remain under investigation by international maritime monitors.