Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps reported an oil tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine. The incident follows recent attacks on other vessels in the waterway.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stated that an oil tanker caught fire in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine. The incident occurred as the vessel attempted to leave the strategic waterway, according to Iranian state media reports.
The IRGC Navy said the explosion struck the tanker’s engine room. According to the statement, the tanker had switched off all its positioning and navigation systems from the start of its voyage. The vessel was attempting to use what Tehran considers an "unauthorized southern route," the IRGC said.
The statement did not identify the tanker or provide information on possible casualties or the extent of the damage. The IRGC Navy warned that ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf with their navigation and identification systems switched off would face a "firm response."
This incident follows a series of similar events in the waterway. On Saturday, the IRGC Navy said two oil tankers had caught fire after hitting naval mines while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. State media reported that both tankers were carrying about two million barrels of crude oil. One vessel was left immobilized after striking a mine, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.
Iran seized control of the strait after war broke out against the United States and Israel in late February. The conflict has choked off the vital shipping route, which normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil. The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, and Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has demanded that all ships seek its authorization before transiting the strait. Admiral Ali Ozmaei, the IRGC’s naval commander, warned this week that any vessel that deactivated its navigation systems would be considered "hostile."
In response to Tehran’s blockade on the waterway, the United States has imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian oil exports. The US and Iran subsequently signed a memorandum of understanding in June concerning freedom of navigation in the strait, but implementation stalled over disagreements related to security in the strategic waterway.
NewsNation reported that the U.S. military developed strike plans that could include the use of its most powerful nonnuclear bomb, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs." No final decision has been made on whether military operations will resume, according to the report.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Disruptions to shipping in the waterway due to the US-Israeli war on Iran have boosted global energy prices and inflation. The continued targeting of vessels that do not comply with Iranian transit regulations highlights the ongoing instability in the region and the risks to international maritime trade.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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