Iran Claims Two Oil Tankers Are Ablaze – Iran says two oil tankers and a tugboat have caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington lists as a terrorist organization, announced the allegation, arguing that the vessels were using “illegal passage south of the Strait.” These claims have not been independently verified.
Iran F-14 Tomcat Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Iran Missiles. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was hit by two unidentified projectiles around 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal in Qatar, at 23:20 UTC on November 4. It added that the crew’s condition and the extent of the damage were unknown.
IRGC: Tankers Hit Mines
The IRGC said in a statement, reported by the Iranian state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, that one tanker had hit a mine after attempting to go through “illegal sea lanes in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz”. It then caught fire.
Another supertanker caught fire while exiting the waterway’s eastern section. A tug attempting to help fight the fire also caught fire.
The IRGC accused Washington of encouraging vessels to use mined routes and imposing “heavy insurance costs on American taxpayers and its allies in the region.” It linked those costs to the U.S. midterm election result and warned of further financial losses and political defeats.
Details about the ships were not immediately released. There was also no independent confirmation that they hit mines, caught fire, or that there were any casualties.
Iranian state television also claimed two American drones were captured by the Revolutionary Guard, according to the Associated Press.
Tanker Hit Off Qatar
The latest tanker incident reported by the UKMTO again shows the severe risk for commercial vessels using the Persian Gulf.
The British maritime body confirmed that two unidentified projectiles hit the vessel north of Qatar. It did not specify which ship was involved or what was used.
No connection has been confirmed between the UKMTO report and the incidents claimed by Iran.
Previously, Qatar faced a dilemma after Nakilat, the state-linked shipping company, reported that its liquefied natural gas carrier Al Mayeda was hit by unidentified objects while in transit through the Gulf on October 30.
No injuries were reported among the crew, and the environment was not affected. The firm noted that: “The vessel is in a safe condition, operational, and the impact of the incident is being assessed.”
However, the number of incidents is becoming increasingly concerning. At least five vessels have reported incidents since November 1, according to UKMTO figures Reuters published on November 5.
Qatar Mediating Between Washington And Tehran
Qatar remains involved in efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran, hoping to prevent another escalation.
A top Iranian official admitted the two nations were still far from reaching a deal, Reuters reported on November 3.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that “intensive joint regional efforts underway to avoid escalation,” were ongoing. He also said both countries were reviewing proposals put forward by mediators.
He also said the continued negotiations offered a “glimmer of hope” for an agreement.
However, Tehran continues to insist that Washington must meet its conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This includes removing oil sanctions, ending the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, and unfreezing sanctioned Iranian funds.
“Tehran’s conditions must be met if the U.S. wants Hormuz reopened,” a top Iranian official told Reuters.
Iranian Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei also said the U.S. reaction to Tehran’s demands “was not convincing.” Rezaei, a top member of Iran’s autocratic regime, has been subject to an Interpol Red Notice due to allegations that he was linked to the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina.
Commercial Shipping Risky Due to Attacks
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important waterways, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The strait’s security is crucial to global energy exports and general commercial shipping.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has repeatedly warned about the repercussions of attacks on commercial vessels. In September, the IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said: “Do not use these conflicts to attack innocent seafarers.”
“In the Strait of Hormuz, it is not only one country attacking merchant vessels,” he stressed.
In August, Dominguez said up to 400 vessels, with around 6,000 seafarers onboard, had been unable to leave the Persian Gulf safely.
The U.S. Maritime Administration has also warned that there remains a high risk to commercial vessels due to Iranian missile, armed UAV, and USV attacks.
However, vessels have continued to move. An average of 121 non-Iranian-linked transits passed through the strait each week between October 5 and October 25, down from 132 in the previous three weeks, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence on November 5.
Around 75 percent of the 144 maritime security incidents reported to the UKMTO since the start of the conflict.
Industry representatives remain worried. INTERCARGO said on November 4 that “the situation in the Gulf waters and the Strait of Hormuz region is changing by the hour.”
The latest incidents reflect global shipping’s serious vulnerability amid the disagreement between Washington and Tehran over the conditions for reopening the strait.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
