Two Oil Tankers Catch Fire in Strait of Hormuz After Striking Mines

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with mines. The IRGC stated that a large, "violating" oil tanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil struck a mine while attempting to pass through the strait illegally, resulting in an explosion and a fierce fire. The exact location of the incident was not specified.

Later on Saturday, the IRGC reported that a second "violating" giant oil tanker also caught fire after hitting a naval mine, and was similarly carrying over two million barrels of crude oil while attempting to transit the strait. The origin of the cargo and the flag flown by the tankers were not immediately disclosed.

The IRGC further claimed that the first tanker was attempting to cross the strait with American support, by disabling all its tracking systems. A video clip was released showing a ship on fire at night.

Since the start of the war, Iran has restricted navigation in the vital waterway, which is central to global energy supplies, following U.S. and Israeli strikes. Washington, in turn, has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Control and navigation in the strait have become a key point of contention between Tehran and Washington, with Iran insisting on overseeing passage through a route it designates, a demand rejected by the U.S. and other parties.

Since the war began, Iran has repeatedly targeted ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without its permission. Last week, Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy Ali Azmaei warned that any vessel disabling its tracking systems to avoid detection while crossing the strait would be considered a "hostile target."