The key facts

  • According to the IRGC Navy, two tankers struck mines and caught fire in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz
  • According to the IRGC, the vessels were traveling with radar and positioning systems switched off, trying to pass unnoticed
  • The incident coincided with reports of explosions in Jask and the interception of two Iranian drones near Bahrain

IRGC Navy statement on the tanker explosions

The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported on Friday that two oil tankers struck naval mines and caught fire while attempting to travel along an unauthorized route through the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the force, the vessels tried to pass through the strait unnoticed, having switched off their radars and positioning systems. The statement noted that one of the vessels was a supertanker, and that flames from the burning ship were visible from the southern shores of the strait.

Warning to shipowners

The IRGC Navy warned shipowners and shipping companies that passage through the strategic waterway is possible only after coordination with its maritime traffic control center. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a key route for international oil supplies.

Context: explosions in Jask and tensions around Bahrain

The statement came amid reports of explosions in the southern Iranian port city of Jask, east of the strait. The official IRNA agency, citing local sources, reported that no impacts were reported in the city or anywhere else in Hormozgan province. The day before, IRNA had reported a strike by the 'enemy' on the southern city of Sirik. The IRGC later said it had destroyed an American early warning radar in Bahrain in retaliation for an attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik. US Central Command reported that its forces intercepted two Iranian attack drones flying toward Bahrain, with no casualties or damage.