Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy (IRGC Navy) said four oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after striking naval mines while attempting to use routes it described as unauthorised.
The IRGC said one vessel, carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil, suffered a powerful explosion and caught fire after hitting a mine.
Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a crude oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile about 40 nautical miles south of Iran’s Lavan Island. The crew were safe, with no environmental damage reported.
The latest incidents come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The strategic waterway handles around one-fifth of global oil supplies, raising concerns over disruptions to international energy trade.
Iran also claimed to have destroyed US unmanned military equipment in the region, allegations that Washington disputed.
