Iran Says Supertanker Carrying 2 Million Barrels of Oil Hit Mine, Sparks Fire in Hormuz

An oil supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil caught fire after striking a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday, as tensions over control of the strategic shipping corridor continue to escalate.

The Guards accused the vessel of attempting to cross the waterway illegally and alleged that it had switched off its tracking systems while receiving US support.

“A supertanker in violation of regulations, carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and attempting to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz, struck a mine, triggering an explosion and a fierce fire,” the Revolutionary Guards said.

The Iranian force did not disclose the exact location of the incident. It also published a nighttime video showing a vessel on fire.

The development comes amid heightened confrontation in the Middle East following the outbreak of war in late February. Iran subsequently took control of the Strait of Hormuz, restricting a maritime passage that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.

In a further allegation, the Guards said: “The tanker attempted to cross the strait with US support… by deactivating all its tracking systems.”

The waterway lies between Iran to the north and Oman to the south and is approximately 30 kilometres (20 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

Since taking control of the strait, Tehran has insisted that ships obtain its authorisation before transiting the passage.

Washington has responded to Iran’s blockade with a naval counter-blockade targeting Iranian oil exports, intensifying the confrontation over maritime access and energy shipments.

Earlier this week, the Guards’ naval commander, Admiral Ali Ozmai, warned that any vessel that deactivated its navigation systems would be considered “hostile”.

The reported tanker incident highlights the growing risks facing commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.

With Iran and the United States maintaining opposing maritime restrictions, the security of vessels and the uninterrupted movement of oil through the region remain major international concerns.

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