The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman warned shipping companies against using the southern route in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a 'mined route' that will destroy their capital. He also urged them not to succumb to the 'deception of child-murdering America,' according to a statement on the IRGC spokesman's the source.
The IRGC spokesman's warning to shipping companies — that the southern route in the Strait of Hormuz is mined and will destroy their capital, paired with a political attack on the United States — marks a sharp escalation in the force's rhetoric. The statement comes hours after the IRGC claimed that three ships attempted to cross the strait this morning and one struck a mine and caught fire, as The Zioneer reported at 02:58 Jerusalem. The spokesman directly targeted commercial traffic, urging companies not to succumb to what he called the 'deception of child-murdering America.'
Earlier today, at 02:58 Jerusalem, the IRGC issued a rapid series of claims: first, that it had struck an oil tanker; then that two tankers turned back and a third caught fire; followed by a mandate that no tanker would pass without coordination with Tehran; then that an oil tanker caught fire and the strait was 'completely closed'; and finally that three ships were involved in a mine strike. All of these claims originate solely from the IRGC and remain unverified by independent sources.
The IRGC's campaign in the Strait of Hormuz has been building for weeks. As The Zioneer reported on Jul 12, the force announced the closure of the strait and began laying mines. On Jul 13, its navy warned vessels to turn back or be fired upon. On Jul 14, it confirmed disabling two commercial vessels. On Jul 22, the IRGC warned against using alternative routes. The latest warning to shipping companies extends this pattern of attempting to control maritime traffic through the world's most critical oil chokepoint.
All of the IRGC's claims — including the alleged mine strike and the warning about the mined southern route — remain unverified by any independent source. The extent of any mining operations and the actual status of the strait are unclear. No independent confirmation of vessel damage, casualties, or the presence of mines has emerged.
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