Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a tanker hit a mine and caught fire south of the Strait of Hormuz, adding to reported threats to shipping through a major oil corridor.
Based on quarterly estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 21.2 million barrels of crude oil, condensate and petroleum products moved through the strait each day in 2025. That was roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption. The EIA identifies Asian import markets as particularly exposed to disruptions there.
The Guards said the tanker was attempting to leave by a southern route they called unauthorized. They said its positioning and navigation systems had been off since the voyage began, and that the blast and fire occurred in its engine room.
Iran has demanded that ships seek permission before transiting the strait. The Guards warned that vessels operating in the strait or Persian Gulf with navigation and identification systems disabled would face a forceful response.
The Guards said two other tankers caught fire after alleged mine strikes a day earlier. EconoTimes previously covered an Iranian military account of a tanker fire near Hormuz.
