OIL TANKER CATCHES FIRE IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

TEHRAN, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA – RIA Novosti/ – Iran's naval forces have reported that an oil tanker caught fire in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz.

"A few hours ago, while patrolling the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian naval forces spotted a tanker that had caught fire in a restricted zone," the statement said, as reported by the Fars news agency.

The statement added that the tanker's crew had intended to pass through a "restricted zone" in the Gulf of Oman after switching off the vessel's navigation system.

Iran has banned commercial vessels from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz without paying a fee and obtaining permission from Tehran.