Iran: Second Supertanker Hit Mine in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Saturday that a second supertanker had struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. It is the latest incident claimed in the waterway during the US-Israeli war with Iran. Iran's official news agency IRNA carried the Guards' claim. It said two oil tankers were hit while crossing the strait.

State media said both tankers were carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil. The Jerusalem Post noted that there was no independent confirmation of the Iranian reports.

IRNA reported that both vessels had switched off their positioning and radar systems. It said they had tried to cross the strait by a route Iran has not authorized. According to IRNA, the mine left the second tanker immobilized. State media had earlier reported that the first tanker also hit a mine while taking a route Iran had not approved.

Attacks around the waterway have surged over the past two weeks. Tehran says it is escalating its strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and to tougher sanctions imposed last month.

Earlier this week, as JFeed reported, the IRGC Navy said a container ship carrying more than 2,500 containers sank after hitting a naval mine south of the Strait of Hormuz. The Guards said that ship had also used an unauthorized route, and they warned local fishermen to be careful. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British navy-affiliated agency, reported that a 50,000-tonne container vessel hit a naval mine while passing through the strait. UKMTO reported no casualties.

On Tuesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected the IRGC Navy commander's claim that his forces control the strait. CENTCOM said the commander "has no navy." It added that US forces had helped Gulf partners ship more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway the previous day.