U.S. military flatly rejects Iran's claim of tanker explosions in the Strait of Hormuz

[Financial News] As military clashes between the United States and Iran continue, the United States immediately rejected Iran's claim that two tankers were hit by mine explosions in the Strait of Hormuz. With the two countries engaging not only in military exchanges but also in an information war, tensions are rising further.
CENTCOM said on X, formerly Twitter, on the 17th local time that "the claim by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that tankers exploded is not true" and that "like other claims made by the IRGC, it lacks credibility."
Earlier, the IRGC said two tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz had struck mines, causing explosions and fires. The Revolutionary Guard claimed the vessels were operating under the direction of U.S. intelligence agencies when the accident occurred, and said it also blocked the passage of four other ships attempting to transit the strait.
As the two sides trade conflicting accounts, military clashes between the United States and Iran are also continuing. The United States resumed airstrikes from the 7th, saying Iran had violated previous understandings and attacked merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM separately announced that it carried out airstrikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive day, starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
Iranian media also reported a series of airstrike damages inside the country. The state-run IRNA news agency said five explosions were heard in the central Yazd region, while Mehr News reported explosions in several southern areas as well.
Iran is also continuing attacks on countries in the Persian Gulf region. Kuwait said a power plant and a water supply facility were attacked, and that seven soldiers were injured in a drone strike targeting a military installation. Bahrain and Qatar also said they intercepted missiles approaching their airspace.
Iran's leadership says it will escalate its response if U.S. airstrikes continue.
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, warned that "if the U.S. attacks continue for several more days, we will launch a full-scale offensive" and that "we will no longer limit ourselves to restrained retaliation, and no political boundary will be guaranteed safety."
As military clashes and conflicting claims continue around the Strait of Hormuz, uncertainty is growing further over the global oil supply chain and maritime logistics.

vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jung-mo Reporter