Oil tanker on fire after hitting mine in Hormuz: Iran’s Guards

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported on Monday that an oil tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with a mine, the most recent incident since Tehran tightened its control over the waterway. Iran assumed jurisdiction over the strait following the outbreak of war against the United States and Israel in late February, disrupting the vital shipping route that typically handles about a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

The Islamic republic has demanded that all vessels obtain its authorization before passing through. According to Iranian state media, quoting the Guards, "An oil tanker, which was in violation, struck a naval mine south of the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in an explosion and a fire in its engine room." The tanker was navigating the strait's unauthorized southern route and had disabled its positioning and navigation systems, as stated by the Guards.

This incident occurred just a day after the Guards announced that two other oil tankers had also caught fire in the strait, both after hitting mines. The Guards' naval commander, Admiral Ali Ozmaei, had warned earlier in the week that any vessel that deactivated its navigation systems would be deemed "hostile." In response to Tehran's blockade of the waterway, the United States has imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian oil exports.