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Two oil tankers caught fire after reportedly striking naval mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions following multiple explosions in southern Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Saturday that the two vessels caught fire while attempting to navigate routes that Tehran had declared unauthorised.
One tanker was struck by a mine east of the strait, while the other was hit inside the strategic waterway.
According to the IRGC, both vessels had switched off their navigation and positioning systems and repeatedly violated Iranian maritime restrictions.
The military did not disclose the names, nationalities or ownership of the ships. Details about possible casualties and the extent of the damage were also not immediately available.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in southern parts of the country, including Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and the port city of Jask.
Two explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, while additional blasts were reported in Jask. The cause of the explosions remained unclear, although reports suggested they might have been linked to military activities.
Iranian officials did not confirm that the areas had been targeted in any fresh attacks. The reports came days after US strikes on Qeshm Island.
The latest incidents came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over maritime security and restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Saturday, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had disabled a St Kitts-flagged commercial vessel, identified as the Huda, in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The US military said an American aircraft fired at the vessel’s stern, disabling it after it attempted to leave the region following a visit to an Iranian port.
US President Donald Trump also said Washington had recently carried out limited strikes targeting an Iranian air defence system.
### Strategic importance of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Around one-fifth of global oil consumption normally passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption to shipping a major concern for international energy markets.
The latest incidents have further heightened fears of escalating military confrontation and disruptions to global oil supplies.
