'Unauthorised supertanker' carrying over 2M barrels of oil sinks in Hormuz: Iran

详细摘要

UKMTO says it was aware of a report by Indian shipping authorities of an attack on a tanker, but it was unclear if it was the same incident.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has said that a supertanker carrying over two million barrels of oil had sunk after it struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship was one of two that hit mines on Sunday while transiting the vital trade corridor, the IRGC said, but there was no independent confirmation of the incidents.

"Over the past few hours, two oil tankers travelling along an unauthorised route in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz struck naval mines, resulting in massive explosions and fire," the IRGC said in a statement carried by state TV.

"One of these vessels, a super tanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil, sank in the southern waters of the Gulf," the statement added.

In recent weeks, Tehran has made multiple announcements saying ships had caught fire in the strait, often claiming they struck mines.

US Central Command said last month that it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer.

Meanwhile, a British maritime monitor (UKMTO) said it was aware of a report by Indian shipping authorities of an attack on a tanker in the Gulf, but it was unclear if it was the same incident as the one announced by Iran.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said the damage and environmental impact were unknown, but the crew were safe.

Since the outbreak of the Middle East war in late February, Tehran has heavily restricted traffic through the strategic waterway, insisting vessels use routes authorised by Iran.

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