The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend, sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, had been targeted. Iranian authorities said the vessel was stopped after being struck and that a fire broke out aboard the tanker.
In its written statement, Iran claimed that the tanker was attempting to pass through the strait "illegally" at the "provocation" and "deception" of the U.S. military.
The statement also said that any vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz "illegally" would be destroyed.
Status of passage through the Strait of Hormuz
Iran halted passage through the strait during the war that began after attacks by the United States and Israel on February 28, and began targeting vessels attempting to pass without authorization.
Passage through the Strait of Hormuz was allowed after a memorandum of understanding was signed between Iran and the United States on June 17. After the war flared up again on July 8 following disputes over the implementation of the memorandum, Iran closed the strait again on July 12.