Iran says three tankers on fire after hitting mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's navy said three oil tankers caught fire on Saturday after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported.

One tanker hit a naval mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning, while two others struck mines later in the day.

"Two violating tankers ... were attempting to slip through a prohibited route in the Strait of Hormuz when they hit naval mines, exploded, and burst into flames," Iran's IRNA news agency quoted the Revolutionary Guards Navy as saying about the evening incident.

Reuters could not immediately verify the reports.

Iran has imposed restrictions on vessels seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and has attacked ships it says violated those restrictions, as it seeks to assert control over the strategic waterway and exert pressure on the US.

Additional reporting

Middle East Monitor, citing Anadolu, reported that Iran's navy said two oil tankers caught fire in the eastern Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine. The statement did not identify the tankers, their flags or the extent of the damage, and there was no immediate independent confirmation of the incident.

The New Region reported that Iran's army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navies said at least three oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz since late Friday. It said one of the vessels was an oil supertanker. The outlet also reported that the veracity of Tehran's claims to have riddled the Strait with mines is unknown, and that US Central Command has repeatedly claimed that all underwater explosives have been removed by the US military.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic shipping route connecting the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Iran has imposed restrictions on vessels seeking to pass through it and has attacked ships it says violated those restrictions, as it seeks to assert control over the waterway and exert pressure on the US.

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Sources

• investing.com: Iran’s navy says three tankers on fire after hitting mines in Hormuz By Reuters
• lufkindailynews.com: Iran's navy says three tankers on fire after hitting mines in Hormuz | Top News | lufkindailynews.com
• middleeastmonitor.com: 2 tankers caught fire after hitting naval mine in Hormuz, Iranian navy says – Middle East Monitor
• thenewregion.com: Iran says three tankers hit naval mines in Strait of Hormuz
• internazionale.it: Iran’s navy says three tankers on fire after hitting mines in Hormuz - Internazionale
• aapnews.aap.com.au: Three oil tankers on fire after hitting mines in Hormuz

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.