Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said Saturday that two oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
State media said both vessels were carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil. Reuters noted there was no independent confirmation of the reports.
IRNA reported that the tankers had switched off their positioning and radar systems and tried to cross through a route Iran has not authorized. The second vessel was left immobilized after the mine strike, state media said.
A waterway under strain
The claims come amid sharply heightened tensions around the strait, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. Iran says it is stepping up strikes in response to a U.S. blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions imposed last month.
Earlier this week, maritime officials said a container ship and a dry bulk carrier sank near the strait after being hit by projectiles in separate incidents.
On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command rejected an Iranian commander’s claim that his forces control the strait, saying U.S. forces had helped Gulf partners ship more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway the previous day.
What it could mean for fuel prices
Disruptions in the strait have already boosted global energy prices and inflation, Reuters reported. If shipping through the waterway is further constrained, crude prices could climb higher — and that eventually reaches the pump.
This is a developing story.
Sources: Reuters; Anadolu Agency; JFeed.
