Iran Reports Supertanker Exploded After Striking Mine South of Hormuz Strait

The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil suffered an explosion and caught fire after striking a naval mine south of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports citing Iranian state media.

According to the IRGC Navy statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB, the vessel was committing violations and had switched off all radar, GPS, and navigational systems before attempting to navigate an "unauthorized southern route" through the strait. The Iranian naval force claimed the ship had ignored repeated warnings prior to hitting the mine.

The Iranian military did not identify the name of the vessel, disclose its flag state or operator, or provide information on crew casualties or the physical extent of the damage. Independent maritime tracking agencies had not immediately verified the vessel's identity.

The IRGC Navy issued a warning holding shipowners and crews operating in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman accountable for transiting unauthorized routes, stating that any movements disregarding the safety and security of the strait would be dealt with decisively.