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Seven oil tankers caught fire or were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz in a single night, Iran said on Thursday. The incident has further heightened tensions amid fears of an all-out war breaking out again in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, three of the seven vessels were damaged by naval mines, while the other four were directly attacked by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran said the vessels were linked to the United States and were travelling through the Strait of Hormuz with Washington’s encouragement. The attacks on so many vessels in a single day signal a major escalation of tensions.
The IRGC recently announced a new policy to counter what it described as US aggression against Iran. Under the policy, a maritime blockade against Iran would also be considered an act of war. This means Iran would no longer simply wait for attacks by the United States or Israel before responding.
The IRGC has also threatened to attack vessels while they transit the Strait of Hormuz. It claims the United States is encouraging, assisting and indirectly supporting the movement of these ships.
It remains to be seen whether Iran will act on these threats if more vessels attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have said that fighting could resume soon. The prospect of renewed conflict is also affecting Iran, which is preparing for a possible confrontation and says it has the capability to retaliate against any attack.