Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said two supertankers were disabled by explosions on Wednesday after allegedly ignoring warnings against using what Tehran described as an unauthorised shipping route.
Iranian state media reported that the vessels exploded after striking naval mines, broadcasting footage it claimed showed the incidents while the country’s military subsequently reported two additional tanker incidents on Thursday afternoon, saying the vessels had also hit mines while navigating the eastern Strait of Hormuz.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile approximately 14 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
Iranian authorities have increasingly attributed vessel explosions and fires to naval mines allegedly struck by ships using what Tehran considers unauthorised routes through the waterway.
According to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy cited by Reuters, at least 10 ships were hit during the first 10 days of November.This followed 37 attacks recorded in October, the highest monthly total since the conflict began.
The incidents have continued despite a rebound in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and expectations that diplomatic efforts could ease hostilities between the US and Iran.
