A cargo ship has sunk after hitting a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps navy said.
It was the first time Iran has reported a ship sinking after hitting a mine during the war. There were few details, including about the fate of the crew. State TV quoted a Guard statement saying the ship was travelling on what it called an illegal and dangerous route when it hit the mine on Wednesday morning.
It said the ship was carrying 2,500 containers when it first caught fire. Iran has repeatedly warned ships against trying to transit the strait without its approval.
The US military has been guiding ships through the strait on a route off Oman on the far side. There was no immediate verification of the sinking and no report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor.
Iran on Wednesday hanged a man accused of an “armed operation” against the theocracy in support of exiled former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. A report by Mizan, an outlet affiliated with the Islamic Republic’s judiciary, identified the man as Ali Sina Mostafavi and said he opened fire earlier during the Iran war and injured several people including a child in the southeastern city of Kerman. Executions of people on similar charges have prompted an international outcry. UN experts this month called on Iran to halt all executions.