Iran’s Guards Say Two Tankers Hit Mines In Strait Of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Saturday that two oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA. State media said both tankers were carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, and there was no independent confirmation of the reports. IRNA reported that the vessels had switched off their positioning and radar systems and attempted to use an unauthorized route through the waterway, with the second vessel left immobilized after striking a mine.
Why it matters: The reported mining of tankers in the Strait of Hormuz bears directly on energy security, as the text states that disruptions to shipping in the waterway have boosted global energy prices and inflation.