Three Oil Tankers Explode in Strait of Hormuz After Hitting Mines
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Oct 29
Three Oil Tankers Explode in Strait of Hormuz After Hitting Mines
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Oct 29
Summary
Three oil tankers exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours after hitting sea mines, according to Iran's IRGC, which said the vessels were left stranded along the southern shore.
Iran said the tankers were using an "unauthorized southern route" and had switched off radar and navigation systems despite repeated IRGC warnings, blaming owners and crews for transiting a lane Tehran says it does not permit.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center separately said a vessel was seen ablaze 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, with the crew's status unknown.
The incident undercuts U.S. and CENTCOM claims in late August that the strait's main shipping lanes had been cleared of Iranian mines and were safe for commercial traffic.