Iran Guards say their mines halted two tankers crossing Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday that their naval mines halted two tankers attempting to travel the Strait of Hormuz via routes considered illegal by Tehran.

“Two violating oil tankers were set ablaze and halted due to the explosion of mines planted by the brave sailors of the IRGC Navy at an illegal crossing point in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz,” the Guards said in a statement published on their official Sepah News website.

Iranian forces have, since the outbreak of the Middle East war, repeatedly targeted ships attempting to pass through Hormuz via a southern route close to the Omani coast.

The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, assassinating the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders.

Iran has attempted to blockade the strategic waterway, demanding that all ships seek its authorisation to cross. In peacetime, Hormuz carried around a fifth of the world’s oil supplies.

The United States has imposed a counter blockade on Iranian ports in response.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi again blamed Washington for insecurity in the strait.

Attacks on vessels attempting to cross the waterway have increased in recent days, as Washington seeks to escort more ships through the strait while Tehran seeks to maintain control over passage.

The Revolutionary Guards also said they had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone.

On Monday, the Guards said a tanker caught fire after hitting a mine, while the day before it said two other tankers had hit mines.

Pakistan seeks to revive US-Iran dialogue

Meanwhile, CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Tuesday, whose visit aims at reviving Islamabad efforts to mediate an end to the Middle East war, Iranian authorities said.

His meeting with top Iranian officials would relate to negotiations but would focus primarily on bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation between the two countries, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.

There was no confirmation of the visit from Pakistan’s side, according to Reuters.