Iran says four tankers struck mines in Strait of Hormuz as shipping attacks intensify
By Robeka Irfan— SCN NEWS
DUBAI, — Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Friday that four oil tankers, including a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude, struck naval mines and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying concerns over commercial shipping security in one of the world's most important energy corridors. The claims came as maritime authorities separately reported attacks on vessels near the strategic waterway, where Iran has imposed restrictions on shipping since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel in February. Reuters and the Associated Press could not independently verify the Iranian account of all four incidents, and the identities of several vessels remained unclear.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said the tankers had attempted to navigate routes that Tehran considers unauthorized, despite repeated radio warnings against entering restricted waters. In statements carried by Iranian state media, the Guards said some vessels had switched off their navigation and positioning systems before entering areas where naval mines were present. The military organisation said a fourth tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude had suffered a powerful explosion and remained on fire, but it did not provide independently verifiable information about the vessel's identity, ownership or crew.
The incidents highlight the increasingly dangerous conditions confronting commercial shipping companies operating between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, where military restrictions and competing claims over safe passage have disrupted established navigation practices. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies, making any sustained interruption a significant concern for energy-importing countries and international commodity markets. The latest reports followed assertions by the U.S. military that it had cleared naval mines from principal transit routes, a position challenged by Iranian authorities who maintain that certain shipping corridors remain unsafe.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a separate incident involving a crude oil tanker struck by an unidentified projectile while leaving the Strait of Hormuz. The agency said a vessel had been hit on its port side approximately 40 nautical miles south of Iran's Lavan Island, causing a fire, although its crew was reported safe and no environmental damage was immediately identified. British maritime officials did not establish whether the incident involved one of the four tankers described by Iran, leaving uncertainty over the number of separate attacks and their precise circumstances.
Another tanker, identified by maritime security sources as the Panama-flagged Louise 1, was attacked Thursday approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, according to Reuters reporting based on maritime security assessments. A small boat approached the vessel and attached two limpet mines to its hull, triggering explosions that caused a fire in the engine room and temporarily disabled the tanker. British maritime authorities said the fire was subsequently extinguished, the crew remained safe and the vessel continued towards its next port, while investigators had not established who was responsible for placing the explosives.
Omani authorities separately reported evacuating 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged tanker that caught fire near the coast of Musandam Governorate. The incident occurred approximately 1.6 nautical miles from the coastline, according to information released by Oman, but officials did not establish whether it was connected to the tanker attacks described by Iranian forces. The uncertainty surrounding the separate reports has complicated efforts to determine the full scale of maritime damage and whether the incidents involved coordinated attacks or unrelated security events.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned that commercial vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission could face military action, asserting that Tehran retains the right to control navigation through areas it considers restricted. The Revolutionary Guards have accused ships of disregarding maritime warnings and entering dangerous corridors, while American military officials have maintained that internationally important shipping routes should remain accessible. The dispute has placed commercial operators in a difficult position, requiring them to assess conflicting military guidance while attempting to protect crews, vessels and cargoes.
The U.S. military's Central Command has said that principal shipping routes through the strait have been cleared of naval mines, rejecting Iranian suggestions that the waterway remains broadly unsafe for commercial passage. Iranian officials have challenged those statements and demanded independent evidence that the routes are secure, arguing that vessels following American guidance could still encounter dangerous conditions. The disagreement reflects the wider confrontation over freedom of navigation, with Washington seeking to maintain maritime access while Tehran uses restrictions on shipping as leverage in its conflict with the United States.
Iran also claimed Friday that its forces had destroyed an American unmanned surface vessel in the eastern Strait of Hormuz and captured a U.S. reconnaissance drone near Qeshm Island. U.S. Central Command rejected the claim involving the unmanned surface vessel, saying its naval drones operating in the Middle East were accounted for, including those deployed in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters could not independently verify the Iranian claims, which added to uncertainty surrounding military operations in the waterway.
The maritime confrontation has continued despite diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran subsequently imposed severe restrictions on commercial shipping through the strait, while the United States introduced measures intended to maintain access for vessels carrying energy supplies from Gulf producers. The resulting disruption has affected one of the world's most strategically important maritime passages, forcing shipping companies to reassess security arrangements and increasing the operational risks associated with transporting crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday for discussions with Iranian officials as regional governments sought to revive efforts to end the conflict. Iranian state media reported that the delegation was led by Qatar's foreign minister and a senior adviser to the prime minister, although details of the discussions were not immediately disclosed. The visit followed diplomatic outreach from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, whose letter to Iranian national security official Mohsen Rezaei had been acknowledged by Tehran without a formal response.
President Donald Trump suggested that the communication from Vance concerned the possibility of facilitating humanitarian assistance rather than restarting formal peace negotiations. Iranian officials have maintained that any diplomatic settlement must address their security concerns and restrictions affecting maritime navigation, while Washington has continued to emphasise the importance of protecting international shipping. The latest tanker incidents underscore the difficulties facing mediators attempting to reduce military tensions while both sides maintain sharply different positions over control of the strait.
The deterioration in maritime security has implications extending beyond the immediate conflict because the Strait of Hormuz provides a principal export route for petroleum producers including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Disruptions to shipping can increase transportation costs, insurance premiums and delivery uncertainty even when vessels remain able to complete their journeys. Energy markets are particularly sensitive to developments in the waterway because prolonged restrictions could affect the availability and timing of crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments to major importing economies.
The latest reports have also intensified concerns about the use of relatively inexpensive explosive devices against large commercial vessels. Maritime security specialists told Reuters that the apparent ability of small boats to approach moving tankers and attach limpet mines creates significant risks in congested shipping corridors where vessels have limited room to manoeuvre. The attack on the Louise 1 demonstrated how a relatively small explosive device could temporarily disable a large tanker, although the crew escaped injury and the reported fire was brought under control.
The broader regional conflict has meanwhile continued to affect other parts of the Middle East, including Yemen, where authorities said Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles towards the southern port city of Aden on Friday. A spokesman for Yemen's Saudi-backed military said the missiles targeted Aden's international airport and a palace used by the internationally recognised government, but officials reported no casualties. The Saudi-led coalition also said it intercepted drones near Mecca and Medina, allegations denied by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, as the United Nations warned that the number of people displaced by the latest fighting in Yemen had exceeded 281,000.
The escalation in Yemen has added another dimension to regional security concerns as governments attempt to prevent the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel from spreading further. Houthi attacks on shipping and regional targets have previously demonstrated the vulnerability of maritime routes around the Arabian Peninsula, particularly where commercial traffic passes through narrow waterways. The combination of instability near the Strait of Hormuz and continuing hostilities in Yemen has increased pressure on regional governments and international organisations to maintain secure transportation corridors.
For shipping companies, the immediate concern remains the absence of a universally accepted assessment of which routes through the Strait of Hormuz can be used safely. Iran's claims that four tankers struck mines have not been independently established in full, while verified maritime reports confirm that commercial vessels have encountered explosive attacks and other security incidents in the surrounding waters. With military restrictions continuing and diplomatic negotiations yet to produce a settlement, the latest developments leave international energy transportation exposed to further disruption.