Iran War: Iran reports another supertanker explosion

There are repeated attacks on oil tankers and other ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions in the Persian Gulf are increasing again.

Tehran. According to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, another supertanker hit a sea mine in the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz. There was a “huge explosion in the engine room” of the tanker today, the powerful military organization said in a statement. The ship then came to a standstill. The Revolutionary Guards had already reported a similar incident that night.

It was initially unclear where exactly the incident occurred. The UK Maritime Safety Authority (UKMTO) today reported two attacks on tankers hundreds of kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, near the coast of Saudi Arabia. However, these had already taken place on Friday.

The Strait of Hormuz, which is only 35 to 40 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, has become the central point of conflict between Tehran and Washington in the Iran War. The strait is of great importance for the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas. Since the war began at the end of February, Iran has largely blocked traffic with threats and attacks on ships. The USA, in turn, is blocking Iranian ports and coastal areas in order to deny the Islamic Republic income from oil exports.

This week, the Centcom regional command rejected a similar report from the Revolutionary Guards about the explosion of a sea mine on the oil tanker “El Gaia”. This was already hit by an Iranian missile last month. Last weekend, Iran attacked the ship again with a drone. A container ship also sank this week after being attacked. In recent weeks, Iran's armed forces have intensified their attacks.