IRGC says supertanker caught fire after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday, 17 October, that a supertanker struck a sea mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas transit route linking the Persian Gulf with open sea. The incident could further heighten tensions between Tehran and Washington and affect global oil supplies.

According to the IRGC navy, whose statement was circulated through Iranian state media, the vessel was carrying more than two million barrels of oil. It said the ship was trying to pass through an "unauthorised route", which led to a "massive explosion" and a "fierce fire". The exact location of the incident is unclear. Iran's Fars news agency published a video that appears to show the vessel in flames. The IRGC also accused the tanker of switching off its positioning and radar systems to avoid detection. It added that the strait is closed and that the consequences of defying Iranian rules were visible in the fire.

Background to the tensions

The strait has been at the centre of the standoff between the US and Iran since the war with Iran began in late February. After US and Israeli strikes on the country, Iran effectively cut off the passage, which normally carries about 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade. In response, the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The US military has repeatedly pushed back on claims that the IRGC controls the strait, saying commercial ships continue to transit despite IRGC aggression. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said on Friday that US forces were working with regional allies and shipping-industry partners to help protect vessels in the strait. In his words, the strait is controlled by the United States and its regional partners, not Iran, and it remains open for business.