Iran Says Another Tanker Hit a Mine and Caught Fire in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Sunday, October 18, that an oil tanker struck a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, causing an explosion and a fire in the vessel's engine room. Reuters carried the same claim early on Monday, October 19, in its global markets report, noting that Iran had reported another tanker hitting a mine in the waterway.

Iranian state media quoted the Guards as saying the tanker was in violation of Tehran's rules for the strait. The vessel had entered a prohibited southern route, the Guards said, and had switched off its positioning and navigation systems while it travelled through the area.

What is not known

None of the reports named the tanker. No flag, owner, cargo, crew size or casualty figure was given, and every account of the Sunday incident traced back to the Guards and Iranian state media. No independent confirmation of the mine strike had been reported by early Monday.

That caution matters in this waterway. Iran controls the northern shore of the strait and has demanded that ships seek its authorisation before crossing. The United States rejects those restrictions and says vessels have the right to free passage through one of the world's main energy routes.

Third claim in two days

The Sunday claim came one day after the Guards said two other tankers had hit mines in the strait. On Saturday, October 17, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said two oil tankers, each carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, caught fire after striking naval mines. Reuters reported that account from the official Iranian news agency IRNA and said there was no independent confirmation of those reports either. The second of those vessels was left immobilised, IRNA said.

Attacks on shipping around the strait have risen over the past two weeks. Maritime officials said a container ship and a dry bulk carrier sank near the strait on Wednesday, October 14, after being hit by projectiles in separate incidents. On Sunday, a tug was also struck by two projectiles northeast of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations office said.

Why the strait matters

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one fifth of the world's oil supplies. Any mine, projectile or seizure inside it reaches fuel prices far beyond the Gulf, which is why traders watch each new claim from Tehran even when the details are thin.

IRGC naval commander Admiral Ali Ozmaei warned this week that ships that disable their navigation systems would be treated as hostile. The United States has imposed a naval counter-blockade aimed at Iranian oil exports in response to Tehran's restrictions on the waterway.

Oil prices eased on Monday despite the new claim. Brent crude futures fell 1.6 percent to 108.06 dollars a barrel and US crude futures lost 0.7 percent to 100.70 dollars a barrel, Reuters reported, after word that President Donald Trump had waived some sanctions on Russia raised the prospect of more supply reaching the market.