Iran's Revolutionary Guards say four oil tankers hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Friday that four oil tankers exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after using what Tehran calls unauthorised routes, including a tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude. The claims could not be independently verified, but the UK maritime agency UKMTO reported separate incidents in which tankers were hit by unknown projectiles and explosive devices.
According to Iranian state media, the IRGC Navy said in its latest statement that the fourth vessel, a tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil, hit a mine, suffered a powerful explosion and was burning. Iran's forces had said on Thursday that several tankers had struck mines on the southern route of the strait near the Omani coast, which Tehran regards as unauthorised, after switching off their radar and navigation systems and ignoring warnings. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the statements, and it was not clear which ships were involved or which flags they flew.
UKMTO, which collects reports from shipping in the region, said a crude tanker was struck by an unknown projectile during an outbound transit of the strait. Earlier it reported a vessel hit on its port side about 40 nautical miles south of Iran's Lavan Island, causing a fire; the crew were safe and no environmental damage was reported. In another case, UKMTO said a small boat attached two explosive devices to a tanker's hull about 25 nautical miles north-east of Khasab, Oman, starting an engine-room fire that was later put out. It was not clear whether these vessels were among those cited by Iran.
Around a fifth of the world's oil normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has severely restricted traffic there since the US-Israeli strikes that began the war on 28 February, and the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports while helping tankers through. US Central Command says the main transit routes have been cleared of mines, a claim the IRGC publicly challenged this week. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the war with Iran would be wrapped up soon.