Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard alleges the vessels caught fire after navigating unauthorized routes through the strategic waterway; independent verification remains pending.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed that four oil tankers struck naval mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.
The announcement revised earlier statements from Iranian authorities, increasing the count of affected vessels from three to four. Official statements in Tehran alleged that the targeted tankers had traveled through unauthorized routes within the vital maritime passage.
The assertions have not been independently verified by international maritime authorities or independent monitors. Critical specifics—including the flags, names, and registry of the vessels, the condition and safety of their crews, and the precise scale of structural damage—remain unconfirmed.
