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A tanker caught fire after colliding with naval mines while sailing in an area described as prohibited, east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media citing the Iranian Navy on Saturday.
Iran has tightened restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to control which vessels are permitted to pass and the conditions required for doing so.
The Iranian Army Navy stated that a fire broke out on a non-compliant oil tanker following its collision with naval mines, noting that the tanker was sailing in a prohibited and unsafe area east of the Strait of Hormuz.
It added that all commercial vessels must refrain from entering unsafe areas in the Strait of Hormuz and avoid turning off their tracking systems, indicating that Tehran's policy in managing the Strait of Hormuz is immutable.
Hostilities have recently focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for Gulf energy exports, which Iran has been restricting since the beginning of the war.
Restrictions on navigation there have led to a rise in global energy prices, contributing to a decline in the war's popularity among Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
In response, the United States is imposing a blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to pressure the country's economy.
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