Iran says tankers hit mines on 'unauthorised' Hormuz routes; US insists main shipping lanes are clear
Iranian forces claimed several oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, claims that could not be independently verified, as Washington and Tehran trade messages through Qatari mediators.
Tension in the Strait of Hormuz rose again on Friday after Iranian forces said several oil tankers had caught fire after striking mines in the narrow waterway, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said four tankers caught fire and exploded while using what it called "unauthorised routes" through the strait, Reuters reported. It said one of them, carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude, was burning after hitting a mine. Iran's regular navy separately said two tankers caught fire in the eastern part of the strait, according to Al Jazeera. Iran did not name the vessels, and the claims could not be independently confirmed.
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Competing claims
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile about 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island, starting a fire, with the crew reported safe. It was not clear whether this was one of the ships Iran referred to. Oman's navy said it rescued 25 crew members from a vessel that had been targeted off the Musandam peninsula.
US Central Command has said the main shipping routes have been cleared of Iranian mines. A spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards challenged Washington to back that claim with independent evidence. Iranian state media also said forces had downed a US drone, which Reuters could not verify, while Central Command denied an Iranian claim that a US unmanned vessel had been destroyed.
Diplomacy continues
The incidents came as indirect contacts continued. Al Jazeera reported that a Qatari delegation was in Tehran for talks aimed at ending the US-Iran conflict, and reports said US Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter proposing a framework for negotiations through Qatari mediators. At the same time, US media reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed by senior commanders on military options.
The strait has been the focus of repeated attacks on shipping since US-Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February.
Why it matters for India
India relies heavily on Gulf crude and gas shipped through Hormuz, and Indian seafarers crew a large number of vessels in the region. Benchmark Brent crude has stayed well above $110 a barrel this week, raising costs for Indian refiners and keeping pressure on fuel prices and the rupee.
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