Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Nov 15: Three oil tankers reportedly caught fire after striking naval mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to statements issued by Iranian naval forces on Saturday, November 15.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed that two vessels attempting to cross the strategically important waterway without authorisation exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines. In a separate statement, Iran's Armed Forces' Navy reported that another tanker met a similar fate east of the strait.
The incidents come amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iranian forces have also warned shipping operators against entering restricted maritime areas, cautioning that vessels navigating prohibited zones could face similar consequences.
According to Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the IRGC Navy alleged that the two tankers were attempting to navigate the waterway secretly with their navigation and automatic identification systems switched off.
The naval force claimed that the vessels exploded and caught fire after striking mines. It also said two other tankers attempting to pass through the strait turned back after receiving warnings from the IRGC's Naval Traffic Control Centre.
In a separate statement, Iran's Armed Forces' Navy reported that another oil tanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy alleged that the vessel had ignored earlier warnings and switched off its tracking and identification systems while operating in an area declared unsafe and prohibited.
Iranian naval authorities warned other shipping operators against entering the restricted maritime zone, threatening that vessels violating the restrictions could face similar incidents.
The Iranian Navy also criticised tanker owners for sending vessels into the prohibited area, accusing them of relying on assurances from US President Donald Trump despite the warnings issued by Iranian forces.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important international shipping route for global energy supplies. The latest developments have added to concerns over maritime security and the safety of commercial vessels operating in the region.
However, the claims regarding the tanker explosions and the presence of naval mines were made by Iranian military authorities. Independent confirmation of the incidents and the extent of the reported damage was not immediately available.