In brief
Two supertankers and a tugboat were said by Iran’s IRGC to have caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz’s “illegal” route. Iran also says it seized two low‑cost unmanned combat drones and cites U.S. accusations of high insurance costs while noting it has barred vessels linked to Israel and the U.S. from the strait since late February.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that three vessels, including two supertankers, had caught fire in separate incidents the previous night as they crossed the Strait of Hormuz through what it described as an “illegal and unauthorized” route south of the waterway.
The IRGC statement, released on its official outlet Sepah News, said one oil tanker ignited after hitting naval mines while passing through the prohibited path. A second tanker, exiting the strait via the same route, also caught fire east of the waterway and was stopped by Iranian forces.
A tugboat that had approached the burning tanker to assist in containing the blaze was also reported to have taken fire, according to the IRGC.
In a separate operation, members of the IRGC’s naval electronic warfare unit said they secured and landed two low‑cost unmanned combat attack system drones that the agency called “invading.” The drones were said to have been deposited unharmed on Iranian territory.
The IRGC accused the United States of imposing “very heavy” insurance costs on American taxpayers and its allies in West Asia, alleging that the U.S. enticed vessels into committing violations and passing through the mined route in the strait.
Iran tightened its control of the strait on February 28, banning safe passage for vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States after joint strikes on Iranian territory earlier in the year.
The incident follows the Iranian government’s recent efforts to enforce stricter regulations on shipping traffic in the Hormuz Strait, citing national security concerns and a broader strategy to deter perceived violations by foreign powers.
