Oil tanker on fire after hitting mine in Hormuz

Iran has claimed that an oil tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with a naval mine, marking a recurring issue since Iran tightened its control over the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route responsible for carrying around a fifth of the world's oil, was seized by Iran following a war against the US and Israel in late February, thereby disrupting this vital trade path.

Iran has imposed a requirement for all ships to obtain authorization before navigating through the Strait, which is now under its jurisdiction.

According to Iranian state media quoting the Revolutionary Guards, the incident occurred when an oil tanker operating in the Strait's unauthorized southern route struck a mine, leading to an explosion and fire in its engine room. The Guards' naval commander, Admiral Ali Ozmaei, had previously cautioned that vessels that deactivated their positioning and navigation systems would be regarded as hostile.

This comes a day after the Guards reported that two other oil tankers had caught fire in the Strait, both of which had collided with mines.

The Guards' naval commander has issued a stern warning to any vessel that disables its navigation systems, stating that such vessels will be considered hostile. The United States has imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian oil exports in response to Tehran's blockade of the Strait.