Iran says oil tanker catches fire after naval mine strike in eastern Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state media reported that an oil tanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, the latest in a series of claimed attacks on shipping in the strategic waterway.
By Vanessa Lopez ·
Iran's navy said an oil tanker caught fire on Saturday morning after striking a naval mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media reports.
Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report. Iran has imposed restrictions on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and has attacked ships it says violated those restrictions, as it moves to assert control over the strategic waterway and exert pressure on the United States.
The report came hours after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Friday night that two oil tankers, including a supertanker, had exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross the strait by what it described as an "unauthorized" route.
The IRGC said both vessels had switched off their radar and navigation systems. It warned shipowners that any ships crossing the strait without coordinating with its traffic-control center would face the same fate.
Earlier this month, the IRGC said four oil tankers had been destroyed after striking mines on a prohibited route south of the strait, and that two other vessels had been seized. A spokesperson claimed the ships had turned off their identification systems to pass covertly with the support of the US military.
On November 1, the IRGC said two tankers exploded after hitting mines in the strait, leaving a supertanker "engulfed in flames." The same day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a tanker in the strait had been hit by an unknown projectile.
In mid-October, the IRGC said two tankers carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil had caught fire after hitting mines.
Iran has said it is escalating its attacks on ships in the region in response to the US naval blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions. None of the IRGC's claims have been independently verified.
