Two Oil Tankers Explode in Strait of Hormuz After Striking Mines

Two oil tankers suffered explosions in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, reportedly after striking naval mines. The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions and ongoing military actions between the United States and Iran, including drone and missile attacks.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement via the official IRNA news agency, alleging that the two vessels were attempting to navigate a minefield in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz due to "stratagems of U.S. intelligence agencies" before detonating. The identities of the tankers involved were not disclosed. The IRGC also reported detaining four other vessels attempting passage through the strategic waterway.

U.S. military officials confirmed they had conducted strikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive night. A statement from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) indicated these operations were intended to weaken Iran's military capabilities. This escalation marks a significant increase in conflict between the two nations, with Iran accusing the U.S. military of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, train station, and two bridges.

Senior military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Tehran would resume full-scale offensive operations if U.S. attacks persisted. He stated that Iran would no longer limit its response to proportional counterattacks and that "no political border will be safe." The conflict reportedly intensified on February 28th with joint U.S. and Israeli attacks causing casualties in Iran, leading Tehran to partially close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil trade, and launch retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. interests in the region.