Iran says oil tanker catches fire after striking mine east of Strait of Hormuz
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Iran's Navy said an oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the vessel of entering a prohibited maritime area despite previous warnings.
In a statement, the Iranian Army Navy said the tanker had switched off its tracking and identification systems while sailing through what it described as an unsafe and restricted zone.
The vessel caught fire and was forced to stop early Saturday, according to the statement.
The Iranian military did not identify the tanker, disclose its flag or provide details about possible casualties or the extent of the damage.
Rising maritime tensions
The announcement came amid a series of reported maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has imposed restrictions on commercial shipping since the US-‘Israeli’ war against Iran began in February.
On Friday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said a liquefied natural gas tanker struck a naval mine and suffered an explosion while using what it described as an unauthorized route through the strait.
On Thursday, Iranian military authorities reported that four oil tankers had been hit by explosions in the waterway over two days.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international shipping route connecting the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and carrying a substantial share of global oil and gas shipments.
