DUBAI, Oct 30 (Reuters) – The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy reported that four oil tankers caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after trying to use unauthorized routes.
In their latest update, the IRGC Navy confirmed that one of the tankers, which was carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil, hit a mine and experienced a significant explosion, causing it to burn.
Earlier, the IRGC Navy announced that another tanker, also holding 2 million barrels of crude oil, had struck a naval mine.
Reuters has not yet been able to confirm these claims.
In a separate report, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency stated that they had received information about an incident in the Strait of Hormuz. A reliable source informed them that a crude oil tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile while passing through the waterway.
UKMTO earlier reported that a vessel was struck on its port side about 40 nautical miles (74 km) south of Iran's Lavan Island, which resulted in a fire on board. Fortunately, the crew was reported safe, and there was no environmental damage.
Lavan Island is located in the Gulf, off Iran's southern coast. It's unclear if the vessels mentioned by UKMTO were among the four tankers identified by the IRGC Navy.
Tensions have remained high in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, especially following US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February.
Iranian state media also reported that Iranian forces shot down and captured an MQM-170 US drone over Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military has not responded to this claim, and Reuters could not independently verify it.
Additionally, Iran announced it had destroyed an unmanned US vessel in the eastern Strait of Hormuz.
However, the US military's Central Command denied this, stating on X: “All U.S. military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones on patrol in the Strait of Hormuz.”