The key facts

  • IRGC Navy: a tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of oil hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a major fire
  • Iran accused the vessel of disabling navigation and radar systems and attempting to pass through an 'unauthorized route'
  • Admiral Brad Cooper (CENTCOM): 'The Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran'

Incident in the Strait of Hormuz

The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that an oil supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil struck a sea mine while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a statement released through Iranian state media and the Tasnim agency, there was a 'powerful explosion' and a 'major fire'. The Fars agency published a video that, it claims, shows the burning vessel. The exact location of the incident was not reported. The statement does not name the vessel, its owner or flag, and contains no data on possible casualties or the extent of the damage.

Iranian accusations

The IRGC Navy described the vessel as an 'illegal' tanker that had disabled its positioning systems and radars to avoid detection and, according to the IRGC, was attempting to use US military support to transport cargo through the strait. The statement said the tanker was traveling along an 'unauthorized route'. It also contained the phrase: 'The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the consequence of defying Iranian rules in the Strait of Hormuz is burning in the fire of trust in the terrorist US army'.

US position and context

The American military side has repeatedly disputed claims of IRGC control over the strait, stating that commercial vessels continue to transit the region 'despite the IRGC's unjustified aggression'. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said on Friday that US forces are working with regional allies and partners in the shipping industry to protect vessels, and stated: 'Let me be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran. It remains open for business'.

Background of tensions

The incident occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Iran and the US over freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz — a key hub for global oil and gas supplies. According to euronews, after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Iran effectively closed the passage through which about 25% of global seaborne oil trade normally flows, and the US responded by imposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Anadolu notes that shipping traffic through the strait has been severely disrupted since the attacks began on February 28.