In a statement on Friday, the IRGC Navy said the LPG carrier ignored repeated warnings and attempted to navigate a prohibited and dangerous southern route several hours earlier before hitting a naval mine, triggering a powerful explosion.

The statement said the ship had failed to learn a lesson from the fate of previously exploded oil tankers and had opted to rely on US fighter jet support to make the passage.

However, it added, the vessel overlooked the fact that "naval mines never coordinate with the smuggling and aggressor US army" when hunting their targets.

The IRGC Navy stressed that the Strait of Hormuz is being managed with "full determination and firmness," warning that any vessel attempting to violate Iran's regulations and enter unauthorized and hazardous routes while disregarding warnings from the IRGC Navy's Strait of Hormuz traffic control center would meet the same fate as previous vessels.