Three oil tankers have caught fire and exploded while attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz through what Iran described as unauthorised shipping routes, according to the country’s state media.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy (IRGC Navy) announced the incident on Friday, October 30, saying the vessels had attempted to use routes not approved by Iranian authorities.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy said one of the tankers was carrying about two million barrels of crude oil when it struck a mine.
Iranian authorities also claimed to have destroyed an unmanned US vessel in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the claims had not been independently verified as of Friday afternoon. Reuters said it could not immediately confirm the tanker incidents or Iran’s report about the US vessel.
There was also no immediate confirmation from the US military regarding the alleged destruction of its unmanned vessel.
The developments come amid heightened tensions in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a major international shipping route for crude oil and other energy supplies.
The reported fires and explosions could raise further concerns about maritime security and the movement of oil shipments through the waterway. However, the full circumstances surrounding the incidents remain unclear.
