Iran reports two oil tankers burning in the Strait of Hormuz

Oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz again, but the passage is considered expensive and risky. Iran is now reporting fires on two tankers - allegedly caused by sea mines.

According to Iranian sources, two oil tankers caught fire after explosions in the Strait of Hormuz. The two ships had previously collided with a sea mine, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said, according to a statement broadcast by state television on Saturday. The ships had previously "switched off their radar and tracking systems and attempted to secretly cross the Strait of Hormuz on an unauthorized route." There were no independent reports on the incident or the possible cause of the explosions. In the past, Iran had reported frequent collisions with sea mines, but independent sources also assumed that unknown projectiles had struck.

The statement did not disclose the names or origins of the ships. It only said that one of the ships was a supertanker. Iran has repeatedly said in recent weeks that ships had caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Last Friday, for example, it was said that a liquid gas tanker also caught fire after a sea mine exploded. News agencies broadcast footage of a burning ship. According to the USA, the strait is largely free of mines again.

The Strait of Hormuz is at the heart of the conflict between the US and Iran. It is extremely important for global trade in oil and gas. Since the start of the Iran war with US-Israeli attacks at the end of February, Tehran has repeatedly blocked the strait and regularly attacks ships there that it accuses of passing through without its authorization. In return, the USA imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.

Nevertheless, oil transport through the strait has increased significantly. However, transport is complex and risky. Many large shipping companies therefore still shy away from the passage. So-called shuttles are sometimes used: tankers pass through the strait and then hand over their cargo to other ships. The high effort has led to an increase in transport costs.