Iran claims fourth tanker hit by mine, catches fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed that a fourth oil tanker had struck a naval mine and caught fire while attempting to pass through what it described as an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC Navy’s public relations office said on Friday the supertanker, carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil, had ignored repeated radio warnings against using the southern passage through the strategic waterway.

The vessel subsequently struck a mine, triggering a powerful explosion and setting it ablaze, according to the statement.

The IRGC said the tanker had been attempting to exit the strait through an unauthorised southern route.

It claimed the incident was the fourth tanker fire in the Strait of Hormuz since early Friday.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel had been hit by an unidentified projectile about 40 nautical miles south of Iran’s Lavan Island at 1800 GMT.

The projectile struck the vessel’s port side and caused a fire on board, the UKMTO said, adding that all crew members were safe and no environmental impact had been reported.

It was not immediately clear whether the incident reported by the UKMTO was connected to the tanker mentioned by the IRGC.

Iranian authorities have reported several incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the strait in recent weeks, including tankers allegedly damaged by naval mines.

The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is a vital international shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.