Iranian state media reported that three oil tankers allegedly struck naval mines and caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, though the account has not been independently verified.
Iranian television said two vessels were damaged inside the strait and a third was burning to the east, according to Vesti Baku. The tankers’ names, flags and routes were not disclosed, and no information about casualties was provided.
Earlier Saturday, Reuters cited the Iranian navy as reporting only one tanker on fire after a suspected explosion in the eastern part of the strait. The news agency said it could not independently verify the report.
Tehran Warns Vessels
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and navy said similar incidents could occur involving ships that use routes without coordination with Iranian authorities. The statement reflects Tehran’s position and does not establish what caused the fires.
Iran has previously linked damage to tankers to naval mines and violations of restrictions it imposed. In some other cases, Britain’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported strikes by unidentified projectiles. The conflicting accounts leave the circumstances of individual incidents unclear.
Risks to Energy Shipments Increase
The incidents come amid conflict between the United States and Iran and continuing navigation restrictions. Attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz reportedly reached their highest level of the current confrontation in October, with dangerous incidents continuing in November.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important routes for oil and liquefied natural gas exports. New reports of tanker damage increase risks for shipping, insurance and energy prices, including for exporters in the South Caucasus.