The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on the 22nd local
time that transit lanes into and out of the Strait of Hormuz are clearly defined
and are entirely under Iranian control; any alternative routes are "unsafe and
extremely dangerous" and would carry "serious and irreversible" consequences.
The IRGC earlier, in the early hours of the 18th (Tehran time), said two tankers
exploded and caught fire after passing a mined area in the southern Strait. U.S.
Central Command disputed Iran's account. The tankers were using the Strait's
"south-side route" near Oman; the U.S. has been encouraging vessels to use the
"south-side route" and says it is safe, while Iran says that route is
unauthorized.
