Iran’s IRGC Navy says second supertanker carrying over 2 million barrels hit a mine in Strait of Hormuz and caught fire

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said a second supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil struck a naval mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

According to the IRGC statement, the tanker was attempting to use what Iran described as an “unauthorized” route and had switched off its positioning and radar systems.

The IRGC said the mine strike caused a major explosion in the vessel’s engine room and left the tanker immobilized at the site.

Iranian authorities did not identify the vessel or provide information about its crew, casualties or possible environmental damage.

The incident followed an earlier IRGC report that another supertanker had struck a naval mine while using what Tehran also described as an unauthorized route through the strait.

Iran has imposed restrictions on shipping through parts of the Strait of Hormuz during its conflict with the U.S., while Washington and its regional allies reject Tehran’s restrictions and maintain that commercial vessels have a right to freedom of navigation through the waterway.