Iran says tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz, reports differ on number

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that three oil tankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas.

In a statement, the Guards said the vessels were trying to use a southern route near the Omani coast that Tehran considers unauthorised. The tankers had switched off their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings from the IRGC navy, the statement said.

It was not clear when the incidents happened or which flags the tankers were flying.

Later on Thursday, Iran's army reported that a fourth tanker had caught fire east of the strait after hitting mines in what it called a restricted and dangerous area, according to Punch. Vanguard and Daily Post reported only the three tankers cited by the IRGC.

What Nigeria could feel

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage between Iran and Oman. Any disruption there tends to raise global crude oil prices, and Nigeria — which imports most of its refined fuel — is exposed to that. Higher crude prices can also lift the cost of petrol and diesel at home, though the sources did not give any figures on price movements.

Since the war began on February 28, Iran has severely restricted traffic through the strait. The United States has responded with a blockade on Iranian ports and has helped tankers travel the waterway. On Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through Hormuz since the summer.

Iran's military has repeatedly accused CENTCOM of encouraging ships to use the southern corridor. The IRGC warned that the route is mined and told vessel owners and crews not to follow CENTCOM's guidance on social media.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi challenged the US claim that mines in main transit routes had been cleared, writing on X: "Prove your Hormuz mine-clearing claim with independent evidence, not statements!"

The British maritime agency UKMTO said it received reports of two incidents: a dhow that caught fire and sank, and a tanker struck by an unknown projectile while leaving the strait. Earlier on Thursday, UKMTO had reported a ship on fire in the strait without giving the cause or any casualty details, and it was not clear whether that vessel was among the tankers Iran described.

The IRGC also said its electronic warfare unit captured a US MQM-170 reconnaissance drone in the western part of the strait.

What happens next

Shipping companies will be watching whether insurers raise premiums for vessels using the strait, a cost that can feed into freight and fuel prices far from the Gulf.