Iran claims two oil tankers caught fire after mine strikes in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as maritime security concerns continue across the strategic waterway.
According to Iranian statements reported by Al Jazeera on 18 October, each tanker was carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil. The IRGC said the first vessel suffered an explosion followed by a major fire, while the second was also engulfed in flames after allegedly striking a mine.
The identities of the vessels, their flags and the origins of their cargoes were not immediately available. The reported cause of the incidents has not been independently established.
Iran alleges vessels used unauthorised routes
Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that the tankers had deactivated their positioning and radar systems before attempting to navigate routes that Iranian authorities had not authorised.
The IRGC further claimed that one vessel was attempting to transit the strait with US support, while the second was left immobilised.
These accounts remain allegations attributed to Iranian authorities, rather than independently confirmed details of the vessels’ movements.
IRGC naval commander Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei had previously warned that ships disabling their navigation systems would be regarded as hostile by Iranian forces.
Conflicting accounts of maritime incidents
The latest claims come amid continuing disagreements between Iran and the United States over the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly attributed vessel incidents to naval mines. However, US Central Command has disputed some of those explanations, maintaining that certain vessels were struck by projectiles rather than mines.
According to separate reporting by Al Jazeera, maritime security agencies have faced difficulties verifying the full number and circumstances of attacks in the region.
The reported incidents add to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping through the strait, a major route for international crude oil transportation.
With the identities of the two tankers still undisclosed, their condition and the circumstances surrounding the reported fires remain uncertain.
