Three Tankers Catch Fire in Strategic Strait of Hormuz

Three oil tankers caught fire on Sunday in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the three non-compliant tankers exploded and caught fire while sailing in an illegal channel in the waterway. The Guards did not give the names or nationality of the vessels.

Maritime Reports And Rescue

The British maritime agency UKMTO reported that a tanker caught fire off the coast of Khasab in Oman, following an earlier report of a tanker struck by an unknown projectile. Emirati state media reported that 22 people were rescued from a burning vessel in the Gulf of Oman and remain in stable condition. Meanwhile, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that explosion sounds were heard in parts of the country, including Qeshm, Sirik, Jask, and Bandar Abbas, with officials confirming an impact in Jask.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global trade route that normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil consumption. Tehran has severely restricted traffic through the waterway since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, while the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.