Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said four oil tankers struck naval mines and remained ablaze south of the Strait of Hormuz, while two other vessels were detained. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the reported incidents.
The statement was carried by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and reported by Reuters on Nov. 4 with attribution to the Iranian side.
According to the IRGC, the four tankers attempted to use a southern route that Tehran describes as prohibited before hitting the mines. The Guard said the vessels were destroyed and continued to burn.
Ships and Crews Not Identified
Iranian authorities did not identify the tankers, their flags, owners or cargoes. They also provided no information about possible deaths or injuries, whether the vessels remained afloat or whether rescue operations were underway.
The IRGC said two other vessels were stopped for making what it called unauthorized passages through the strait. Their names and status were not disclosed.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world’s most important maritime routes for oil shipments. If independently confirmed, a major incident involving several tankers could affect commercial navigation, freight costs and war-risk insurance premiums.
Source: Vesti Baku; the IRGC statement was also reported by Reuters. The underlying incident had not been independently verified at publication time.