The key facts

  • Two tankers struck mines and lost the ability to move due to fires
  • The Iranian military claims the vessels switched off navigation systems and traveled along prohibited routes
  • The names of the vessels, their ownership, and the condition of their crews remain unknown

Incident in the strait

Two oil tankers struck sea mines and caught fire while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing a statement by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as retold by Life.ru. According to the Iranian military, the vessels attempted to use prohibited routes: one tanker struck a mine in the eastern part of the strait, the other directly within its waters. After the explosions, fires broke out on both ships, leaving them unable to continue moving.

Claims by the Iranian side

The IRGC also stated that the crews had switched off navigation systems and vessel identification equipment. According to the Iranian side, the tankers attempted to leave the strait with the support of the American military, violating restrictions established by Tehran. These claims come from the Iranian military and have not been confirmed by independent sources in available publications.

What remains unknown

The names and flag states of the damaged vessels have not been disclosed; no information has been received about the condition of the crews or possible casualties. Separately, Tasnim reported that the sounds of explosions on Qeshm Island were not related to missile strikes. Context of the situation: earlier, Life.ru reported, citing the Iranian side, that Iran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfills seven conditions — among them a cessation of military operations, the lifting of the American naval blockade, and the unfreezing of frozen assets; Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, called Washington's response unconvincing.

Tasnim: The sounds of explosions on Qeshm Island were not related to missile strikes