Iran's Revolutionary Guard reported that a liquefied petroleum gas carrier was struck and caught fire while attempting to use an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated on Friday that a liquefied petroleum gas carrier, identified as the NV Sunshine, was struck and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC claimed the vessel was using an illegal route and blamed the U.S. military for escalating regional maritime tensions. The incident follows ongoing warnings from Tehran regarding the use of unauthorized shipping lanes in the strategic waterway.

Incident Details and IRGC Response

The IRGC reported that the NV Sunshine, owned by the Natwit company, suffered a massive fire in its engine room and propulsion system following the strike. Iranian officials stated that their naval forces would not permit invading forces to remain in the area and vowed to counter any attempts to disrupt their management of the waterway. Ali Mohammadi, the IRGC Navy’s political deputy, stated that the force has conducted nightly operations in the strait since the beginning of the war to protect national interests.

Maritime Security Context

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera in the United Arab Emirates, resulting in a fire that was later extinguished. It remains unclear if the two incidents are connected. Tehran continues to insist that all vessels follow routes it deems authorized, warning that ships violating these rules will be punished.