An oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly colliding with a naval mine outside a navigation route designated by Iranian authorities, according to Iranian state-affiliated media.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that the tanker had allegedly drifted away from the approved shipping lane before striking the mine in the strategic waterway. There was no immediate information on casualties, the identity of the vessel, or the extent of the damage.
Citing an informed source, Mehr News Agency said the vessel deviated from the designated route before hitting the explosive device.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Iran’s warning on June 26 that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use routes designated by Tehran’s military.
Earlier this week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that three oil tankers attempted to use an unauthorised route in the southern part of the Strait. According to the IRGC, one tanker struck an explosive device and caught fire, while the other two vessels turned back. Iranian authorities warned that ships transiting the Strait without prior coordination would face similar consequences.
The latest explosion follows another reported incident on July 14, when the IRGC said it disabled two oil tankers after they allegedly ignored military warnings, switched off their navigation systems, and entered a mined corridor outside the designated shipping route.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil exports.
