Three Oil Tankers Explode in Strait of Hormuz After Hitting Mines

Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Navy announced on Saturday that three oil tankers experienced explosions and fires in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials stated the vessels struck naval mines after entering unauthorized areas and disabling their tracking systems. Official Iranian television broadcast a statement from the Revolutionary Guard's naval forces early Saturday, detailing that two tankers attempted to transit the strait through an unapproved corridor after turning off their radar and positioning systems, subsequently hitting mines and catching fire. In a separate announcement, the Iranian Navy reported a third tanker caught fire and was forced to stop after colliding with a naval mine east of the strait. The Navy described the tanker's route as an "unsafe and prohibited" area, noting that its location systems had been deactivated. The statements did not identify the names or flags of the three tankers, though the Revolutionary Guard mentioned one of the two tankers that caught fire in the southern part of the strait was a supertanker. Tehran has imposed strict navigation controls in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy supply route, since the outset of hostilities following initial U.S. and Israeli strikes in February. Conversely, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and continues to escort ships through the strait, while Washington asserts it has cleared most naval mines from the area. On Friday, the Revolutionary Guard released footage showing thick smoke billowing from a vessel they claimed was carrying liquefied natural gas, following a mine collision in the southern part of the strait.