Iran Says Three Oil Tankers Caught Fire After Hitting Mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that three oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, escalating concerns over shipping safety along one of the world’s most important energy routes.

In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC said the vessels had attempted to cross what it described as an unauthorised southern route through the strategic waterway. The Iranian force claimed the tankers exploded and caught fire after hitting mines within the previous 24 hours.

“Over the past 24 hours, three violating oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking mines while attempting to pass through the unauthorised southern route of the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.

The IRGC also alleged that the vessels had switched off their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings issued by its navy. However, the statement did not identify the ships, disclose the flags they were flying or specify exactly when the incidents occurred.

Iran Warns Ships Against Using Southern Route

The Iranian military said the southern passage through the Strait of Hormuz was mined and warned shipowners and crews against following guidance from the United States military.

“The IRGC Navy states that the unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz is mined, and that vessel owners and crews are responsible for transiting these routes and should not pay attention to CENTCOM’s delusions on social media,” the statement said.

Iran’s armed forces have repeatedly accused US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the region, of encouraging commercial vessels to use a southern corridor close to the Omani coast. Tehran considers that route unauthorised.

The claims could not be independently confirmed from the information available in the report. It also remained unclear whether the three tankers mentioned by Iran were connected to a separate incident reported earlier on Thursday.

UK Maritime Agency Reports Ship on Fire

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime security agency, said it had received a report of a vessel on fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

The agency did not immediately provide details about the cause of the fire or report whether anyone had been injured or killed. It was also unclear whether the vessel was among the three tankers referenced by the IRGC.

The lack of identifying information about the ships and the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents left key questions unanswered as concerns mounted over the security of commercial shipping in the area.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions Threaten Energy Shipments

The latest claims come amid heightened tensions following the outbreak of war on February 28, after which Iran sharply restricted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The narrow waterway normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption, making disruptions to shipping through the passage a major concern for energy markets and international trade.

The United States has responded to Iran’s restrictions by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports, further intensifying the confrontation between the two countries.

Any sustained disruption to shipping in the strait could affect the movement of oil and gas supplies, while threats from mines and uncertainty over safe navigation routes could increase risks for commercial vessels and their crews.

Iran Also Claims Capture of US Reconnaissance Drone

In a separate statement, the IRGC said its navy had captured a US reconnaissance drone during an operation in the western Strait of Hormuz.

“The IRGC Navy announced that its electronic warfare unit had successfully captured a US MQM-170 drone during an offensive operation in the western Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.

The report did not provide further details about the drone’s condition, the circumstances of its alleged capture or any response from the United States.

The tanker fires and the reported drone capture add to tensions surrounding the strategic waterway. However, independent confirmation of the IRGC’s claims, the identities of the vessels involved and the circumstances of the reported incidents remained unavailable at the time of reporting.