Oil tanker burns after mine strike in Hormuz
Iran's navy says an oil tanker caught fire on Saturday 14 Nov after hitting a naval mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, the fifth tanker reported ablaze in 24 hours. The navy did not name the vessel or its flag. Iran's Revolutionary Guards say two tankers, one a supertanker, exploded on Friday 13 Nov while using an unauthorised route. Iran has restricted passage through the strait and says it has attacked ships that broke those limits. None of these claims has been independently verified, and Reuters could not immediately confirm the Saturday incident.
Key facts
- The Revolutionary Guards say the earlier tanker strike on 1 Nov left a supertanker engulfed in flames after two tankers exploded.
- In mid-October the Guards said two tankers carrying about 2 million barrels of crude caught fire after hitting mines.
- The Guards earlier this month said four tankers were destroyed by mines on a prohibited route south of the strait and two vessels were seized.
Summarised with AI from 5 sources · Updated 17:11Read our AI policy
Why it matters
Repeated mine strikes in the strait threaten shipments of oil and gas through one of the world's main energy routes.
What changed
Summary updated
Summary updated
First published from Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye, The Hindu, Asharq Al-Awsat and The Straits Times