Two US-controlled oil tankers hit by mines in Strait of Hormuz

Two oil tankers under US control were hit by mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from the Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The incident occurred while the tankers were attempting to pass through an unauthorized route instead of Iran's designated safe passage in the strategic waterway. The IRGC reported that the tankers are currently on fire.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime chokepoint through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes. The area has been a focal point of tensions between Iran and the United States, with both sides frequently accusing each other of threatening freedom of navigation. The IRGC has previously warned against unauthorized entries into Iranian territorial waters and has enforced safety protocols for vessels transiting the strait.

The report did not provide further details about the tankers' identities, the extent of damage, or any potential casualties. It also did not specify the exact location of the incident within the strait. The IRGC's statement emphasized that the tankers had deviated from the designated safe passage, implying that the mines were likely placed as a defensive measure to protect Iranian waters from unauthorized incursions.

This incident is likely to escalate already heightened tensions in the region, where recent months have seen a series of confrontations between Iranian naval forces and commercial shipping. The United States has increased its military presence in the area, and there have been multiple incidents involving tankers and naval vessels. The international community has expressed concern over the safety of shipping lanes and the potential for a broader conflict.

According to Mehr News Agency, the IRGC's Public Relations Office issued the statement, which was brief and did not include additional commentary. The agency's report, published on its English-language website, highlighted the unauthorized route taken by the tankers as the cause of the incident. The report concluded with the acronym MNA, indicating the source of the information.