Two Tankers Explode in the Strait of Hormuz, Triggering a Major Fire.. Iran Says They Entered a Minefield

[Financial News] Iran claimed that two tankers exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz as military tensions continued to simmer in the area. On the 18th local time, IRNA reported, citing a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), that two tankers exploded in the southern waters of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a major fire.
The IRGC said the vessels were misled by U.S. intelligence and entered a mine-laden area, where the accident occurred. However, no details were released on the ships' nationalities, cargo, number of people on board, or whether there were any casualties.
The incident occurred one week after the United States and Iran effectively moved beyond the existing ceasefire agreement and continued armed clashes around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has repeatedly emphasized its control over the northern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that only vessels authorized by Tehran can pass safely.
In a statement, the IRGC said, "U.S. military actions have severely damaged the safety of the Strait of Hormuz," and added, "Until U.S. attacks stop, the maritime export of crude oil, natural gas and chemical fertilizers cannot proceed normally."
It also warned ships in transit not to approach mine-laden waters and stressed that they should not be misled by false information.
Meanwhile, IRNA also reported that the IRGC Navy shot down one U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drone in the airspace near Bushehr in southern Iran.
※ So far, the related reports have been based mainly on statements from the Iranian government and state-run media, and the cause of the explosions and the scale of the damage have not been independently verified.

vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jung-mo Reporter