A second oil supertanker has hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday.
According to the IRGC’s account, both vessels suffered explosions in their engine rooms after striking mines. The Guard claims the tankers had switched off their positioning systems and radar while passing through the strait on what it called an “unauthorised route”.
The IRGC further claimed that each tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. These claims could not be independently verified, and no shipping company or flag state has yet confirmed the details.
The incidents come amid sharply rising tensions between the United States and Iran. Washington has accused Tehran of targeting commercial shipping in the region, while Iran has denied responsibility for earlier attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil routes. About a fifth of global oil consumption passes through this narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.
Maritime security agencies have advised vessels to exercise extreme caution in the area. Oil prices remain sensitive to any disruption in the strait, and traders are watching the situation closely.
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