The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, is facing a renewed threat from sea mines, according to Iran and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
What happened
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy reported that two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The tankers were carrying approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil and had attempted to use an unauthorized route through the strategic waterway.
The IMO warned that sea mines pose a serious threat to vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, and that the critical shipping lane remains too unsafe to transit. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the organization cannot guarantee the safety of vessels transiting the route due to the presence of mines.
The incident occurred amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran over ending the conflict and restoring maritime traffic. Iranian officials have urged Washington to accept a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but talks have been unsuccessful so far.
