Two Oil Tankers Hit Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN: Two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines while attempting to pass through unauthorised routes in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In a statement, the IRGC said one of the vessels was in the eastern part of the strait, while the other was within the waterway.
Both tankers reportedly suffered major fires after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross routes not authorised by Iranian authorities.
According to the statement, both vessels allegedly violated several regulations, including switching off their navigation and position-tracking systems while passing through the waterway.
Since the outbreak of the war involving Iran in late February, Tehran has restricted vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz and ordered all ships to use routes approved by the Islamic Republic.
In response, the United States (US) imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports while assisting oil tankers passing through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic shipping route that normally handles approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption.
The IRGC did not disclose the names or nationalities of the two oil tankers.
In recent weeks, Tehran has repeatedly announced incidents involving vessels catching fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Last month, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the summer, adding that all naval mines in the waterway had been cleared.
In a separate development, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported late Saturday that explosions had been heard in several parts of Iran.
“Sounds resembling explosions were heard in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas. The cause of the sounds remains unknown,” the news agency reported via Telegram.
IRNA also reported that authorities had confirmed an incident involving an “impact” in the port city of Jask.
US President Donald Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of resuming large-scale attacks against Iran but later withdrew the statement.
However, the US military continues to carry out periodic small-scale strikes.
UTUSAN MALAYSIA