Explosion in the Strait of Hormuz: Tanker may have hit a mine, Iranian media say

An oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly striking a naval mine when it deviated from a route set by Iran, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. Tehran has not yet officially commented on the report, Reuters reported today. It is therefore still unclear which flag the tanker was sailing under, and there have been no reports of any casualties.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key artery for global oil transportation. The question of who will control it has become one of the central issues in the conflict between the United States and Iran, which the United States and Israel launched with strikes on Iran in late February.

Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at halting military operations and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as well as reaching an agreement to end the war within the following 60 days. Three weeks after it was signed, however, US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire over after Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the United States responded with further strikes.

Both Iran and the United States have signalled their intention to charge fees in the strait for ensuring safe passage. Before the conflict, no fees were collected in the strait, through which around a fifth of global oil supplies and large volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) used to pass.