Iran says fourth oil tanker hit by mine in Strait of Hormuz
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Friday that a fourth oil tanker exploded and caught fire after striking a naval mine while attempting to navigate an “unauthorized route” through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC Navy said the supertanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and ignored repeated radio warnings against using the southern route of the strategic waterway.
The force said the vessel was still burning following the explosion, describing it as the fourth tanker to catch fire in incidents reported since the early hours of Friday.
The latest announcement follows a series of maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran claiming that several tankers struck naval mines after attempting to cross routes it considers unauthorized.
The developments come amid competing claims over the security of the waterway. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had cleared internationally recognized primary transit routes of Iranian naval mines, a claim challenged by Iranian officials.
Strategic importance
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world's most important energy shipping routes, normally carrying around one-fifth of global oil consumption.
Shipping disruptions in the waterway have heightened concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security amid the ongoing US-‘Israel’ war with Iran, which began on February 28.
