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Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has accused US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper of directing oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz with the help of the United Arab Emirates' military. Rezaei made the claim in an interview with Press TV, Iran's state-run English-language broadcaster.

Rezaei said the alleged smugglers use five or six small boats to transfer oil onto large tankers, adding: "Every night we hit five or six of them." Responding to US President Donald Trump's statements that the Strait of Hormuz is open, Rezaei said the US engages in smuggling while Iran holds control of the waterway. He also warned that a new US attack would be met with Iran's "new capabilities," claiming that US assets in the UAE are not yet on Iran's target list but that cables, data centers and artificial intelligence facilities in the region, which he valued at more than $2 trillion, could be destroyed if an attack occurs.

Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said a so-called supertanker with a capacity of roughly two million barrels tried to pass through the strait with its navigation systems switched off, struck a sea mine and suffered an explosion in its engine room. The statement said three oil tankers have hit mines since the previous day and warned that ships disabling navigation systems would be treated as "enemy ships." Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on July 12 after US strikes resumed on July 8, threatening to target vessels using unauthorized routes.

Key Takeaways

• Rezaei accused CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper of running oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz using the UAE military.
• Iran's IRGC said three oil tankers have struck sea mines since the previous day and warned ships disabling navigation would be treated as enemy vessels.
• Iran reopened tensions over the strait after closing it on July 12, following the resumption of US attacks on July 8.