Iran Reports Fires on Tankers After Naval Mine Strikes in Strait of Hormuz
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
- Portal PortuarioArmada iraní reporta incendio a bordo de petrolero tras impactar una mina naval en el estrecho de Ormuz
- jornal portuarioArmada iraní reporta incendio a bordo de petrolero tras impactar una mina naval en el estrecho de Ormuz
- Hellenics Shipping newsFour oil tankers destroyed in Hormuz after hitting mines, Tehran says
- Portal PortuarioIrán afirma que cuatro petroleros fueron destruidos tras impactar minas en el estrecho de Ormuz
A tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in a restricted zone east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian Navy. The institution stated that the vessel had entered an area designated as off-limits and unsafe with its navigation systems switched off.
The Iranian Navy warned tanker owners not to attempt to transit restricted waters without prior coordination or with their automatic identification systems turned off. The institution urged shipowners to treat this incident as a warning, since such maneuvers can result in collisions with naval mines and fires. The statement did not identify the vessel or provide details on its crew, possible casualties, or the extent of the damage.
Escalation Two Days Later
Two days later, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that four tankers were destroyed after striking naval mines while attempting to transit a restricted shipping lane south of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the official IRNA news agency, the explosions caused fires aboard all four vessels, which were still burning at the time the statement was released, while two other ships were detained for violating navigation restrictions.
The IRGC added that its air defenses shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone over the strait at 4:30 a.m. local time, the 56th of its kind downed by its forces, according to the institution. The organization stated that the operations were carried out by its naval and aerospace forces and warned that it remains prepared to strike again against Israel and the United States.
Diplomatic Context
The incidents occurred as Qatar continued mediating between Washington and Tehran, amid the US naval blockade and tensions over maritime security in Hormuz. Iran had indicated that it was maintaining indirect contact with the United States and that reopening the waterway depended on Washington lifting the blockade, while negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the country was ready for combat and President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted on resolving the crisis through dialogue.
