The Iranian armed forces on Saturday evening opened fire to intercept "violating" vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorization, said sources.
The armed forces opened fire on the vessels from near the Sirik area.
Earlier in the day, the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that two supertankers had exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting naval mines.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz had already been closed.
Iran has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz since Feb. 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on the Iranian territory.
Iranian forces open fire to intercept "violating" vessels in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian forces open fire to intercept "violating" vessels in Strait of Hormuz
China has launched a series of agritech aid and cooperation programs in the Republic of the Congo under its global initiatives over the past week to help local farmers increase yield and income.
On Thursday, a day ahead of the World Food Day, a joint laboratory on modern agricultural technology between China and the Republic of the Congo under the Belt and Road Initiative was officially inaugurated.
The lab is expected to serve as a new platform for the two countries to deepen agricultural research cooperation and promote the application of modern agricultural technologies, officials said.
"China is providing us with significant and decisive support, and the joint laboratory will be a key driver for us to master the necessary knowledge and skills more quickly, address existing shortcomings, and make significant progress especially in biotechnology field," said Rigobert Maboundou, minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation of the Republic of the Congo.
An expo on China-Africa agricultural innovation and technology opened on Wednesday in Brazzaville, featuring a photo exhibition of the outcomes of China-Africa agricultural projects, as well as innovative agricultural technologies and products.
Representatives from China and the Republic of the Congo also toured local farm fields. With the assistance of Chinese agricultural experts, the introduction and promotion of advanced cultivation techniques have tripled the local yield of cassava, a key food crop in the region.
"We are putting into practice the agricultural training techniques we learned here in our production. Now, Chinese agricultural technology has taught us how to farm, how to do it better, and how to improve the yield and quality of our agricultural products," said Guy Ndombolo, a local farmer.
China helps African farmers increase yield via agritech programs
