Iran’s navy, quoting statements carried by Iranian state media, says three oil tankers catch fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The accounts describe one tanker striking a mine in the eastern part of the strait, with two additional tankers later hit the same day, following mine explosions.
Several outlets repeat that the vessels were attempting to transit through routes Iran characterises as prohibited or unauthorised. Reporting also includes additional details from Iran’s IRGC Navy via IRNA, including claims that tankers switched off tracking and navigation equipment and took a route described as “secretly” or without authorisation. One outlet adds that, after explosions, other tankers received warnings from Iran’s traffic control centre and returned toward the Persian Gulf.
Some coverage places the incident within a broader narrative: one outlet links Iran’s mine claims to efforts to pressure the United States over a blockade and notes that prior incidents have not been independently verified. Another frames the event in the context of wider tensions since the outbreak of conflict with the United States in February, including Iran’s insistence that vessels obtain authorisation to cross the strait.
