Third oil tanker catches fire in Strait of Hormuz after hitting mine, IRGC says

A third oil tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine, according to a statement from the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC). The vessel, described as a shuttle tanker carrying 750,000 barrels of crude oil, attempted to pass through an unauthorized route on Sunday afternoon despite warnings from the IRGC Navy, the force's public relations office said.

According to the statement, the tanker struck a naval mine, triggering an explosion and a severe fire. The incident is the third such case involving an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC Navy said it had issued warnings to the vessel before the attempt to transit the unauthorized route.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass. The IRGC Navy maintains a presence in the area and has previously warned vessels against using routes it considers unauthorized.

No further details were immediately provided by the IRGC statement regarding the vessel's identity, flag, or the extent of damage and casualties. The report by Mehr News (MNA) added that this marks the third oil tanker incident of its kind in the Strait of Hormuz.