Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported that another oil tanker struck a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering an explosion and a fire in the vessel’s engine room, according to a statement published on the Guard’s Telegram channel.
The statement said the tanker was traveling along a route that had not been coordinated with Iranian authorities and had switched off its navigation systems. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday afternoon near the exit of the Strait of Hormuz.
IRGC Warns Ships Transiting the Strait of Hormuz
The latest announcement follows reports from Iran in recent days that two oil tankers had struck naval mines in the strategic waterway, amid tighter restrictions imposed by Tehran on maritime traffic in the area.
The IRGC had previously warned vessels that disable their navigation and identification systems against violating Iranian instructions, stressing the need to coordinate with Iranian authorities when transiting certain maritime areas designated by Tehran as restricted zones.
In earlier remarks, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi announced restrictions on navigation in an area east of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that vessels entering the zone without coordination with Iran could face punitive measures, according to Iranian media reports.
Regional Tensions Raise Concerns Over Shipping and Energy Supplies
The reported incident comes amid escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, as attacks between the parties continue to affect commercial shipping and oil tanker traffic across the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas to global markets. Any disruption to shipping through the passage raises concerns about the security of energy supplies and potential effects on international prices.
The Iranian statement did not identify the tanker’s name or nationality, specify the extent of the damage, or provide confirmed information about possible injuries among the crew.
