Oil tanker catches fire after hitting a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz; This is the 3rd case in less than a week

An oil tanker caught fire this Saturday (14) after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state agency IRNA.

According to a statement from the Iranian Navy, the vessel was sailing in a prohibited area, with tracking and identification systems turned off, despite previous warnings from Iranian authorities.

The episode is the third report of a fire involving oil tankers in the region released by IRNA in less than a week. The previous cases were recorded on November 8 and 11, also east of the Strait of Hormuz, and attributed by Iranian authorities to collisions with naval mines.

In Saturday's statement, the Iranian Navy stated that the ship hit a mine and was engulfed in flames, interrupting navigation. The military force also warned that vessels that enter the zone considered prohibited will be subject to the risk of hitting explosives installed at sea.

Last Wednesday (11), the Iranian Army reported that another oil tanker had caught fire after hitting a mine in the same region. At the time, authorities said the vessel was sailing in an area classified as unsafe and prohibited.

Last Sunday (8), the Iranian Navy reported a similar episode. That day, the army also said three oil tankers had hit naval mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a separate statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

Iranian authorities claim to control the transit of vessels through the strait and require prior authorization for passage, with circulation restricted to maritime corridors defined by the country.

According to the statements, routes to the south, close to Omani waters, are not authorized and have been mined.