Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim the vessels used unauthorised routes through the strategic waterway, but the ships’ identities and crew conditions remain unclear.
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says naval mines struck two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, setting the vessels ablaze and bringing them to a halt.
In a statement published through its official Sepah News platform, the IRGC Navy said the tankers were travelling through a maritime route that Tehran considers unauthorised. The statement described the incidents as the result of explosions involving naval mines in the southern part of the strategic waterway.
The claims add to growing concerns over shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for international energy supplies.
Iran says tankers violated maritime restrictions
According to the Iranian military statement, the two tankers were stopped after mines exploded along a route the authorities had designated as unauthorised.
Iranian officials characterised the vessels as violating the country’s maritime restrictions. However, the available report did not identify the ships, disclose their ownership or provide details about their crews.
The exact timing of the incidents and the extent of the damage were also not established in the report. Independent confirmation of the full circumstances was not provided.
Strait of Hormuz remains a major shipping concern
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s most important maritime routes for oil and gas shipments.
Any disruption to commercial shipping through the strait can create uncertainty for energy markets, increase transportation risks and complicate deliveries to importing countries.
The latest reported incidents come amid heightened regional tensions and disputes over which vessels can safely transit the waterway. Previous reports have also described attacks and mine-related incidents involving commercial ships in the area.
Questions remain over the vessels and crew
Important details remain unavailable, including the names and flags of the two tankers, the number of people aboard, whether anyone was injured and the extent of any environmental damage.
The available reporting also does not establish whether the vessels were carrying oil at the time of the incidents or whether the alleged fires affected nearby shipping.
These details will be important in assessing the consequences of the reported incidents.
