Four tankers on fire after hitting mines near Strait of Hormuz, Iran says; US insists main routes are clear

Four oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran said on Thursday 29 October, a day after the US military said it had cleared mines from the main shipping lanes. AFP's report, carried by Business Recorder, said it was not immediately clear when the blasts happened or which flags the ships flew. No casualties have been reported.

What Iran says happened

• Three tankers, per the IRGC: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three "violating" tankers exploded and caught fire over the previous 24 hours while using the southern route through the strait, near the coast of Oman, which Iran treats as unauthorised. It said the ships had switched off radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings from its navy.
• A fourth, per Iran's army: later on Thursday the army said another tanker caught fire east of the strait after entering a "restricted and dangerous area".
• A captured drone: the IRGC also claimed its electronic warfare unit brought down a US MQM-170 drone in the western part of the strait.

What the US and shipping monitors say

US Central Command said on Wednesday that mines on the primary transit routes had been cleared. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi rejected that and demanded independent evidence, saying ship owners and crews are responsible for using the southern corridor.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) reported two separate incidents: a dhow that caught fire and sank, and a tanker hit by an unknown projectile as it left the strait. Neither has been tied by name to the Iranian claims.

Why it matters

The strait normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil. Iran has restricted traffic through it since the war began on 28 February, and the US has blockaded Iranian ports while escorting tankers; CENTCOM says it has helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels through Hormuz since the summer. Brent crude was at about $102.69 a barrel on Thursday, per Business Recorder's market table.

The incidents come as Washington has told Gulf allies to prepare for short, intense strikes on Iran after the 3 November US midterms (our report), and as Tehran says it is discussing a seven-day plan with mediators to end the war and reopen the strait (our report).

What it means in Pakistan

Pakistan imports most of its crude and fuel from the Gulf through or near Hormuz, so attacks on tankers push up freight and insurance costs that feed into pump prices. PSO's ex-depot Karachi price for petrol stood at Rs 377.91 a litre on 29 October; follow it daily on the petrol price page and see what your monthly driving costs with the fuel cost calculator.