Oil tanker catches fire after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz, Iran says

TEHRAN — Iran’s navy said an oil tanker struck naval mines east of the Strait of Hormuz, causing damage to the vessel and sparking a fire.
According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, the navy said the tanker had switched off its tracking systems and was attempting to pass through a restricted and unsafe area that Iran has declared prohibited.
The statement said the vessel hit the mines while trying to enter the prohibited and dangerous zone, sustaining damage and catching fire. However, Iran did not identify the tanker, disclose its flag, or provide details about casualties or the extent of the damage.
Iran’s navy stressed that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and unsafe for violating vessels, adding that all ships must ensure necessary coordination with the Iranian armed forces.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes; before the war, around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the waterway