A supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil has sunk in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a mine, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said. The IRGC said two oil tankers hit mines while trying to cross through an unauthorised route, triggering explosions and fires.
According to the IRGC, one of the vessels, a supertanker, went down. It did not say what happened to the second ship, and it did not disclose the nationality of either vessel.
Full details of the incident, including the condition of the crew members on board, are yet to emerge.
Iran has restricted shipping through the strait since the war in West Asia began, insisting that vessels use only the routes it has designated. It has also carried out attacks on ships transiting without its permission, and has said that more mines are exploding and setting vessels on fire.
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command is taking steps to ensure that ships can pass safely through these waters.