Iran reports three incidents of oil tankers hit by mines in Hormuz

Since the outbreak of conflict with the US in February, Iran's navy and Revolutionary Guards have required ships to seek permission to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and attacked those that failed to comply. On Saturday, Iran's forces reported that three oil tankers had suffered fires after striking mines in the strategically vital waterway.

Two of the tankers had deliberately disabled their radar and positioning systems, attempting to navigate through the restricted zone unauthorised. Both vessels exploded and caught fire upon hitting naval mines, according to the Guards' navy statement. A third tanker navigating an unsafe route east of the strait, with its tracking and identification systems deactivated, also suffered an explosion and was forced to halt.

While the sources did not disclose the ships' identities or origins, the Guards claimed one of the incidents involved a supertanker. The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's chokehold on the crucial trade route and has provided military assistance to vessels utilizing the waterway. Iran's armed forces have reported multiple fires or explosions on ships in the strait in recent weeks, typically attributing the incidents to mine strikes.

The Guards demonstrated footage on Friday of a sizable cloud of smoke emanating from what they claimed was a liquefied gas carrier that had struck a mine in the southern strait. However, US military officials assert they have cleared the primary channels through the waterway of mines.