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Iran Says Five Tankers Damaged by Mines in Strait of Hormuz — AI-generated representative image: An oil tanker with smoke rising from its hull in the Strait of Hormuz, illustrating reported mine damage to shipping in the r

Editorial Team

Tehran reports naval mine strikes on oil tankers as shipping disruptions raise fears of renewed US combat operations against Iran.

At least five oil tankers have been damaged in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian forces, who attributed the incidents to naval mines as shipping remains imperiled by the ongoing war between Iran and the United States and Israel.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army reported a series of fires and explosions involving tankers between Wednesday night and Thursday, while the British military separately confirmed a tanker was struck by two projectiles off Qatar's coast.

The incidents underscore the mounting danger to commercial shipping in one of the world's most critical energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption, and Tehran has severely restricted traffic through the waterway since the war began in late February.

The renewed attacks come amid reports that thousands of US forces could soon resume major combat operations against Iran, raising fears of a wider escalation that could further destabilize global energy markets.

Reported Incidents in the Strait

The IRGC told the Fars news agency on Thursday that a large oil tanker attempting to pass south of the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after striking a mine and was brought to a halt. A second supertanker was halted by a massive fire while exiting the eastern Strait of Hormuz, and a tugboat that approached to extinguish the blaze also caught fire.

The Iranian army later reported three additional tankers struck by naval mines. One vessel caught fire early Thursday morning east of the Strait of Hormuz, and two more struck mines and caught fire around noon in the same area, according to statements carried by the official IRNA news agency.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was hit by two projectiles about 50 nautical miles (about 93 kilometres) north of Madinat ash-Shamal, Qatar, at 23:20 GMT on Wednesday. The agency did not identify the vessel or its flag, and no party immediately claimed responsibility.

Background and Escalating Tensions

Since the war on Iran began in late February, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe restrictions imposed by Tehran. Attacks on tankers in the Gulf are running close to a record pace, with UKMTO reporting last month that it was struggling to accurately document the true number of incidents because most ships now refuse to report them.

Last week, the liquefied natural gas carrier Al Mayeda was hit by unidentified objects while sailing in the Gulf on October 30, according to the Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat). The company said no crew members were injured and there was no environmental impact, adding that the vessel remained safe and operational while the impact was being assessed.

Qatar has stepped up mediation efforts to resume talks on ending the war. A spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that both sides were reviewing proposals put forward by mediators, with talks continuing.

Military Posture and Official Warnings

Unnamed Pentagon officials and military commanders told The New York Times on Wednesday that thousands of US air and naval forces on more than a dozen ships and at bases across the Middle East and in the United States are poised to resume major combat operations against Iran on President Donald Trump's orders.

Iranian leaders have warned of repercussions if the US or Israel pursue further military action. On Wednesday, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said there should not be "even the slightest inclination towards submission" to the US, which he said would remain hostile toward Iran regardless of which party held power.

IRGC Ground Force commander Brigadier General Mohammad Karami said the continuation of "hostile and brutal actions by Iran's enemies" would lead to "further Iranian victories and greater national pride," while accelerating the expulsion of foreign powers from the region and the collapse of Israel.

What Lies Ahead

The full extent of damage to the affected tankers and the status of their crews have not yet been independently confirmed. UKMTO has not identified the vessel struck off Qatar, and no group has claimed responsibility for that attack.

With mediation efforts ongoing in Qatar and US forces reportedly positioned for renewed operations, the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile. Further information on the incidents and any diplomatic developments is awaited.

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