A supertanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil sank after striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday. Iranian authorities stated that two oil tankers hit mines while navigating an unauthorized route in the southern section of the strait, which resulted in subsequent explosions and fires.
According to the IRGC, the vessels involved had disabled their identification and positioning systems to traverse the area covertly. Iran further alleged that these ships had received military support from the United States. While the IRGC identified the loss of the supertanker, they did not disclose the vessel's name or its country of origin. The IRGC's claims regarding the incident have not been independently verified.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported a separate tanker attack in the Gulf, citing information provided by Indian shipping authorities. The UKMTO confirmed that the crew involved in this separate incident were safe, though the total extent of the damage and potential environmental impacts remain unknown. It is currently unclear if the UKMTO report corresponds to one of the incidents described by Iranian officials.
Meanwhile, the state-run IRNA news agency reported that a total of five oil tankers struck mines and caught fire across the waterway within a 48-hour period. IRNA stated that two of these incidents took place near the coast of Oman, while the remaining three occurred in the central and eastern sections of the strait.
Key facts
- A supertanker carrying two million barrels of oil sank after a mine strike, according to the IRGC.
- Iran's state news agency IRNA reported five separate tanker mine-strike incidents over a 48-hour period.
- The UKMTO reported a separate tanker attack based on information from Indian shipping authorities.
- Iran maintains that vessels must use routes authorized by the state to navigate the strait.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint in the region. Since late February, Iran has restricted shipping through the waterway, demanding that all vessels utilize routes sanctioned by Tehran. While the US military recently stated that it had cleared mines from the main shipping channels, ongoing reports of explosions continue to disrupt maritime traffic.
Background
The United States has responded to Iran's shipping restrictions by implementing a naval blockade of Iranian ports and providing support for tankers attempting to transit the strait. US Central Command reported last month that it had facilitated the export of 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the region since the summer.
Source: Times of India
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