A large supertanker struck a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, sparking an explosion and a fire aboard the ship. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy confirmed the incident in an official statement.
The military branch reported that the vessel collided with the explosive device while navigating through the area. Officials did not disclose the identity of the stricken tanker.
Authorities withheld any information regarding potential casualties among the crew. The statement offered no immediate details on the extent of the damage to the vessel.
After the blast, the IRGC navy issued a direct warning to vessels operating in the region. The military advised ships to avoid passing through unsafe sections of the strategic waterway.
Captains transiting the strait were urged to keep their automatic tracking systems switched on at all times. This measure aims to monitor maritime traffic and prevent further incidents in the volatile corridor.
The region has experienced repeated military flare-ups in recent years. The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate by targeting Israeli and American assets across the Middle East. Those hostilities ceased after a ceasefire agreement reached in April.
Washington and Tehran subsequently signed a memorandum of understanding concerning freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on June 18. Implementation of the agreement stalled due to ongoing disagreements between the two nations regarding security arrangements within the strait.
