Iran Reports Fires and Explosions on Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
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The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that several tankers caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz while attempting to use unauthorized routes, according to Iranian state media. Portal Portuario, citing Reuters, referred to three affected vessels, while Reuters, in a report published by GCaptain, indicated that four tankers caught fire and exploded in the area.
According to the statement from the IRGC Navy, one of the vessels was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil and had struck a sea mine, triggering a powerful explosion and fire on board. GCaptain noted that this would be the fourth vessel mentioned by the IRGC Navy, also loaded with more than 2 million barrels of crude, following an earlier statement that had already reported another tanker struck by a mine while carrying the same cargo.
U.S. Reaction
As of now, the United States Armed Forces had not confirmed the information, and Reuters was unable to independently verify it. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had previously stated that Iranian claims about commercial vessels being struck by sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz are false, adding that the main international transit routes had been cleared of mines and continue to be used safely by thousands of commercial vessels.
Other Reported Incidents
Iran also claimed to have destroyed an unmanned U.S. vessel in the eastern sector of the Strait of Hormuz, a claim CENTCOM denied, stating that all U.S. unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of naval drones on patrol in the strait. Iranian state media further reported that Iranian forces shot down and captured a U.S. MQM-170 drone over Iran's Qeshm Island, near the strait, with no immediate response from the U.S. military.
Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported an incident in the Strait of Hormuz in which a crude oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while completing an outbound transit through the waterway. UKMTO had previously reported that a vessel was struck on its port side about 40 nautical miles south of Iran's Lavan Island, causing a fire on board; the crew was reported safe and no environmental impact was reported. Portal Portuario added that, more recently, a vessel attached two limpet mines to the hull of a tanker, causing a fire in the engine room and temporarily taking the vessel out of service.
