Iranupdated 1h ago3 min read
Archive photo · 17 October 2021Iran’s Navy Says Oil Tanker Catches Fire After Striking Mine Near Strait of Hormuz
“any movement in this area is under serious surveillance”
“the main shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are currently safe and free of Iranian mines”
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC / US federal government, Public domain · Cropped for layout
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Oil tanker struck naval mines east of Hormuz and caught fire, Iran says. Vessel had switched off tracking systems while entering a restricted area.
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Mine Strike, Fire Reported
Iran’s military announced on October 27 (local time) that an oil tanker attempting to pass through the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz with its tracking devices turned off struck a marine mine, resulting in a fire. The Iranian Navy said the tanker had switched off its tracking systems and was attempting to pass through a “restricted and unsafe” area when it hit the mines, and it sustained damage and caught fire after the incident. Iran’s military emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded, and it asserted that oil tankers must coordinate navigation procedures with Iran in advance.
The Iranian Navy did not provide details on the tanker’s identity, flag, crew or possible casualties, and it said the Strait of Hormuz remained “unsafe and closed” to vessels attempting to pass without coordination. The Iranian military also framed the claim as effectively refuting a U.S. military announcement that there are no longer any Iranian mines in the main trade routes of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Says Strait Closed
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed” on October 26, warning that vessels violating its transit regulations “risk being engulfed in flames.” The IRGC’s enforcement framework tied safe passage to coordination with Iran’s armed forces, and it said the Strait remained “unsafe and closed” to vessels attempting to transit without coordination. Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Abdollahi, said the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed and that no violating vessel will be safe, rejecting U.S. claims that the strategic waterway is open and free.
Abdollahi warned that the IRGC’s naval and ground forces have full control and surveillance over the coasts of the Persian Gulf, its islands and the Strait of Hormuz, and that any movement in the area is under strict monitoring. The Iranian army also repeated that an oil tanker in breach of regulations, having switched off its tracking systems and attempted to cross a prohibited and dangerous area east of the Strait of Hormuz, struck naval mines, causing damage and a fire.
Diplomatic Talks, Shipping Stakes
The incident came amid diplomatic efforts to end the conflict involving Iran and the US, with regional countries seeking to facilitate negotiations and reduce tensions. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding in June and began negotiations that later collapsed over disagreements concerning navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for energy supplies and goods. Iran’s Navy said ships seeking safe passage must communicate with Iran’s armed forces, and it did not disclose the vessel’s name, flag, the number of crew members on board or whether anyone had been injured or killed.
The Iranian army said the tanker was attempting to cross via a route not authorized by Tehran, and it described the Strait as a prohibited and dangerous area east of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military’s broader stance linked the reported mine strike and fire to its assertion that the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded, and it said navigation procedures must be coordinated with Iran in advance for safe transit.
