Iran says three oil tankers hit mines near the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after hitting mines in the previous 24 hours while using what they called an unauthorized southern route of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not name the ships, and the claims have not been independently verified. U.S. Central Command has said mines on the primary transit routes have been cleared; a Guards spokesman challenged that. Separately, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a vessel, identified by regional authorities as a dhow, caught fire and sank north of Khasab, Oman; its crew was safely evacuated.
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Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption, and Iran has sharply restricted traffic there since the war began on February 28. Ships and crews using the route face the risk of mines. Iran's claims about the three tankers have not been independently confirmed.
How each side sees it
Sources
- Reuters via A News: Iran's Revolutionary Guards say three oil tankers hit mines
- AFP via Arab News: Iran's Revolutionary Guards say three oil tankers hit mines
- National Security Journal: Iran hasn't named a single ship
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