Iran's Guards say two supertankers struck mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said Saturday that a second oil supertanker had struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after making a similar claim about another vessel, according to Anadolu Agency and Shafaq News.

The Guards said the tanker was carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude, that an explosion hit its engine room and that the ship was left immobilized. They accused the crew of switching off positioning and radar systems and using what Tehran calls an unauthorized route. Iran International reported that the IRGC also accused the U.S. military of misleading the ship.

No independent confirmation

The IRGC did not name either vessel, its flag or owner, and gave no information on crew or casualties, both Anadolu and Shafaq News reported. HNGN reported that, as of Saturday night, neither U.S. Central Command nor the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) had confirmed either incident.

Iran requires ships to use routes it authorizes during its conflict with the United States; Washington and regional allies reject those restrictions and insist on freedom of navigation, Anadolu noted.

Traffic still depressed

UKMTO figures cited by Anadolu put transits about 70 percent below pre-conflict levels, with 125 outbound and 129 inbound crossings in the past week.

Tallies of recent attacks differ:

HNGN also reported that the U.S. military said a container ship that sank Thursday was hit by an IRGC projectile, not a mine as Iran had said.