An oil tanker struck a naval mine and caught fire in the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy reported on Monday.
The IRGC stated the tanker hit the mine while using an “unauthorized southern route” and had deactivated its positioning and navigation systems, violating rules set by Iranian authorities. The explosion triggered a fire in the ship’s engine room, forcing it to come to a stop, according to Iranian state media .
The IRGC Navy released footage showing the tanker engulfed in flames after the explosion. Earlier, on Sunday, the IRGC reported two other tankers had caught fire in the strait after striking mines .
Iran has controlled the Strait of Hormuz since late February, when it began enforcing restrictions on shipping traffic following U.S. and Israeli strikes. The IRGC has warned that any vessel disabling its navigation systems in the strait will face “severe and decisive” action .
The strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas trade, previously handled about one-fifth of worldwide oil and LNG shipments before the conflict disrupted traffic .
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi reiterated on Sunday that Tehran was prepared to reopen the strait within seven days if the U.S. accepted its conditions, including lifting sanctions on Iranian oil exports and ending the blockade of its ports .
