Iran Says Four Tankers Hit Mines in Hormuz as U.S., Britain and Oman Give Rival Accounts

Iran Says Four Tankers Hit Mines in Hormuz as U.S., Britain and Oman Give Rival Accounts

Four tankers ablaze, one loaded with over 2 million barrels

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Oct. 30 that four oil tankers struck naval mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz while using what Tehran calls unauthorised routes. One was described as a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of oil, abandoned at the entrance to the strait and still burning.

Three blasts on the southern route, one east of the strait

Iranian armed forces statements carried by state media said three offending tankers exploded and burned in the past 24 hours on the unauthorised southern route, while a fourth hit mines while operating in a restricted and dangerous area east of the strait.

Tehran draws a red line near the Omani coast

Iran treats the southern corridor closer to Oman's shores as unauthorised and demands that vessels use a designated route coordinated with its armed forces. The Guard warned shipowners and crews that the unauthorised route is mined and told them not to trust U.S. Central Command statements on social media.

Washington insists the main lanes are mine-free

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, said the primary internationally recognised transit routes remain free and clear of Iranian sea mines after an American clearance operation. CENTCOM said momentum has built in recent months, more than 95 percent of ships transited safely, and U.S. support helped export 1.5 billion barrels of oil. It dismissed Iranian-controlled media reports of mine strikes as false.

Britain reports a separate projectile strike

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker completing an outbound transit was hit on the port side by an unknown projectile at about 1600 UTC on Oct. 29, causing a fire. No crew injuries or pollution were reported at the time. Euronews, citing the Financial Times, identified the ship as the Louise 1, saying two explosive devices were attached above the waterline about 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, setting the engine room on fire before the blaze was put out.

Oman pulls 25 crew from the burning RITI

Oman's Maritime Security Centre said its navy evacuated 25 crew from the merchant ship RITI, flying the Panamanian flag, after it was targeted and caught fire. The crew received medical care. Tracking service MarineTraffic lists the RITI as a crude oil tanker. One account put the attack 1.6 nautical miles off the Musandam coast. It remains unclear whether the RITI is one of the four tankers named by Iran.

Saudi coalition and Houthis clash over a drone near Mecca

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said a drone launched by Yemen's Houthis was intercepted and destroyed over the Mecca region. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree denied any operation aimed at Mecca, saying Houthi strikes target Saudi oil facilities and military bases.

Four narratives, one chokepoint still in danger

Mine blasts claimed by Iran, mine-free lanes claimed by Washington, a projectile strike logged by London, and a burning hull evacuated by Muscat leave shipping with conflicting guidance. India's shipping minister said all 27 Indian seafarers aboard the Louise 1 were safe, as were two Indians aboard the Liberian-flagged VLCC Arzanah, underscoring how many nationalities are exposed in the waterway.