Iran’s Guards say tanker caught fire after mine strike in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on October 17 that a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil struck a mine and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The reported incident threatens another disruption in a waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption; the mine strike and fire have not been independently confirmed.

What the Guards said about the tanker

The Guards said the vessel was trying to pass through the strait without their authorisation when it hit the mine. Their statement did not give the exact location of the reported strike. They also accused the tanker of switching off its tracking systems and attempting to cross with US support. Those accusations have not been independently verified.

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters

Tehran seized control of the strait after the war began in late February and has required vessels to seek its permission before transiting, AFP reported. The narrow passage lies between Iran and Oman and measures about 30 kilometres across at its narrowest point. Restrictions there affect a route used for a substantial share of the world’s oil consumption.

The reported mine strike comes amid competing claims of control. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said on October 16 that the United States and regional partners controlled the strait and that it remained open for business, Euronews reported. Washington has also imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian oil exports in response to Tehran’s blockade, according to AFP.

Earlier in the week, the Guards’ naval commander, Admiral Ali Ozmai, warned that vessels deactivating their navigation systems would be considered hostile, AFP reported. That warning gives context to the Guards’ accusation about the tanker’s tracking systems, though it does not establish what the vessel’s crew did.