The Revolutionary Guards stated the ship caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine during an unauthorized transit. While a British maritime agency confirmed an attack reported by Indian authorities involving an unharmed crew, it remains uncertain if the reports describe the exact same event. The incident unfolds against an active United States naval blockade of Iranian ports and efforts by Washington to sweep primary shipping lanes.
Key points
Tehran continues to strictly enforce route restrictions by targeting unauthorized commerc…: Tehran continues to strictly enforce route restrictions by targeting unauthorized commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional maritime security remains volatile amid an ongoing United States naval blockade…: Regional maritime security remains volatile amid an ongoing United States naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Independent verification remains absent regarding the full extent of the environmental da…: Independent verification remains absent regarding the full extent of the environmental damage and the vessel's sinking.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
TEHRAN: Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday (Nov 15) that a supertanker carrying over two million barrels of oil had sunk after it struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship was one of two that hit mines while transiting the vital trade corridor, the Guards said, but there was no independent confirmation of the incidents.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East war in late February, Tehran has heavily restricted traffic through the strategic waterway, insisting vessels use routes authorised by the Islamic republic.
It has regularly targeted ships that transit without its authorisation.
The United States has in response imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and helped tankers travel the strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil.
The American military recently claimed to have cleared all mines from the main routes through the waterway.
"Over the past few hours, two oil tankers travelling along an unauthorised route in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz struck naval mines, resulting in massive explosions and fire," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps…
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