Strait of Hormuz tankers: Iran says three caught fire after hitting mines, Reuters could not verify
The Revolutionary Guards Navy said two of the vessels were trying to slip through a prohibited route, while Reuters said it could not immediately verify the reports.
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Iran’s navy said on Saturday that three oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media, Reuters reported in a copy carried by AAP. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the reports. The accounts named no vessels.
What Iran says about the Strait of Hormuz tankers
One tanker hit a naval mine in the eastern strait on Saturday morning, while two others struck mines later in the day, Iranian state media reported. For the evening incident, IRNA quoted the Revolutionary Guards Navy as saying two “violating tankers” were attempting to slip through a prohibited route when they hit naval mines, exploded and burst into flames.
Online outlet The Open Press carried the same account. It said Iran’s navy and Revolutionary Guards reported fires on three oil tankers in total after the vessels struck mines. Tehran has restricted navigation in the waterway.
Earlier naval mines claims from the Revolutionary Guards Navy
On Wednesday night, the Revolutionary Guards Navy reported that two supertankers carrying more than four million barrels of oil were disabled by explosions while attempting to cross, according to the same outlet. Those earlier claims also come from Iranian military statements. None of the reports reviewed carries independent confirmation of any incident.
Key numbers
- 3: oil tankers Iran says caught fire after hitting mines on Saturday, per AAP (Reuters).
- 1: tanker hit in the eastern strait in the morning, with two more struck later in the day, per AAP (Reuters).
- 4 million: barrels of oil the two supertankers were said to carry in the Wednesday night claim, per The Open Press.
- 28 February: date Iran tightened its control over the waterway, per The Open Press.
Background: the US naval blockade and Iran’s transit rules
Tehran has insisted that vessels obtain its authorisation to cross since war erupted with the United States in February, and it has attacked ships that do not comply, the outlet said. Iran tightened its control on 28 February, following joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory. In response, Washington has imposed a US naval blockade on Iranian ports and provides military support to tankers using the waterway.
The war is also a funding fight in Washington. NIS reported that four senators vowed to oppose any stopgap bill before the 11 December deadline.
What happens next
No response from Washington, the tanker operators or shipping insurers appears in the reports reviewed. The key test for the Strait of Hormuz tankers claims is whether anyone other than Iran’s own military confirms them. A US reaction to the latest claims is the other thing to watch.
The Strait of Hormuz is a main route for Gulf oil, so any tanker fire raises shipping and insurance risk even before the claims are confirmed. All the detail so far comes from Iranian state media and military statements, so independent confirmation and any US response will decide how far the incidents move oil markets and the war.