Iran Reports Fires on Two Tankers and a Tugboat in Hormuz

The IRGC said one tanker struck a naval mine while moving south of the Strait. Another tanker caught fire in the Strait’s eastern part as it was leaving, and a tugboat that approached to assist also caught fire, the force said.

Separately, UK Maritime Trade Operations, affiliated with the Royal Navy, said it received a report that a tanker had been hit by two unidentified projectiles 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar. The crew’s status, the extent of damage and any environmental impact had not been confirmed early Thursday, UKMTO said.

The IRGC said Wednesday that four oil tankers had been destroyed after hitting naval mines in an area south of the Strait that Iran has declared prohibited for navigation. Attacks on vessels have intensified in recent weeks, even as crude oil flows have fallen from recent highs.

Exports of crude oil, condensate and fuels from the Middle East declined to 17.1 million barrels per day in October, from 18.9 million bpd in September, according to Vortexa data cited by Reuters. The figures may be revised upward as more shipment details emerge, including on shuttle shipments. Tanker-tracking services increasingly use satellite imagery to verify vessel movements because ships often switch off transponders while transiting the Strait to avoid detection.