Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly striking sea mines. The IRGC Navy's public relations department stated on Monday morning, November 2, that the tankers were navigating through an unauthorized route.
According to the IRGC statement, one of the vessels was a supertanker that caught fire following a powerful explosion. The IRGC claims the ships had turned off their navigation and identification systems and were attempting to pass covertly with the support of the US military before the incident halted their progress.
This event raises tensions in one of the world's most critical waterways for oil transportation. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint, and any disruption there can have significant impacts on global energy markets.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a separate maritime incident in the Persian Gulf. In a statement on X, the organization said it received a report of an incident 72 nautical miles east of Ras al-Khafji, Saudi Arabia.
According to the UKMTO, a vessel was targeted by two unknown projectiles in this incident. The identity of the attackers, the source of the projectiles, and the exact condition of the vessel and its crew after the attack have not yet been determined.
These two events on the same day have heightened concerns about maritime security in the region, which has previously experienced similar incidents and attacks on commercial shipping. International officials have not yet commented on these incidents.
Source: IRGC, UKMTO
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