Two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting naval mines, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday. The Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, said the vessels were attempting to cross through unauthorised routes. The Guards did not name the tankers or their nationality, so the claim rests on Iran's statement.
What the Guards and Iran's navy said
The Guards said both tankers had multiple violations, including switching off their navigation and positioning systems. Separately, Iran's navy warned other ships that vessels which ignore warnings and travel in prohibited areas will meet the same fate. It is not clear from the official statements whether the navy warning refers to the same tanker.
The Guards also said Tehran has made several recent announcements about ships catching fire in the strait. Those announcements are part of a wider pattern of Iranian statements on the waterway.
Restrictions, the US role and explosions on the coast
Since the Iran war broke out in late February, Tehran has severely restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that vessels use routes it authorises. The waterway normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption, so disruption there is felt well beyond the region. In response, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and has helped tankers travel the strait.
US Central Command, the American military command for the region, has said it helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer. It has also said that all mines have been cleared from the waterway, a claim that sits alongside Sunday's reports of mines striking tankers. Iran's state news agency reported late on Saturday that sounds resembling explosions were heard in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas, and that officials confirmed an impact in Jask. The cause of the sounds was not known.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Late February: the Iran war broke out, and Tehran began severely restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Since the summer: US Central Command says Gulf countries have exported 1.5 billion barrels of oil via the strait with its help.
- Late Saturday: sounds resembling explosions are reported in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas; officials confirm an impact in Jask.
- Sunday: Iran's Revolutionary Guards say two tankers caught fire after striking mines while using unauthorised routes.
US President Donald Trump has previously talked up the possibility of resuming heavy strikes on Iran but has since walked back from that idea. The US military has nonetheless carried out occasional limited strikes. The next steps for the strait were not set out in the statements available.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Iran ke Revolutionary Guards ke mutabiq Hormuz ke samandari raaste mein do oil tanker mines se takra kar aag mein aa gaye. Iran ne jahazon ko sirf apne mukarrar kardah raston se guzarne ko kaha hai, aur America ne Iranian bandargahon par naval blockade laga rakha hai. Is ka asar petrol ki qeemat aur Gulf ke raste se hone wali tijarat par ho sakta hai, lekin abhi koi faisla kun tabdeeli nahi hui hai.
