Four tankers on fire in Hormuz, oil prices highest in six months
Smoke rises from an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that four oil tankers caught fire after being hit by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Two of the tankers were carrying 20 million barrels of crude oil each. Amid this situation, oil prices have also risen in the global market.
On Friday, the IRGC navy said all four tankers were hit in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. However, these claims by Iran could not be independently verified.
The IRGC claimed that late in the day, two tankers struck naval mines while passing through a route not approved by Iranian authorities. Both ships were carrying 20 million barrels of crude oil each.
Earlier in the day, two more tankers faced similar incidents. One of them also struck a mine while passing through an unapproved southern route, the IRGC claimed.
Iran has said that all ships and oil tankers must coordinate with the IRGC before transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had previously warned of action against ships attempting to pass through the strait without permission.
Meanwhile, Oman said 25 sailors were rescued from a Panama-flagged tanker that caught fire after being attacked near its coast.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said an unknown object struck another vessel near Iran's Lavant Island. The crew of that ship are safe.
According to UKMTO's count, at least 35 attacks on ships occurred in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in October — the highest in a single month since the US-Israel war against Iran began in February.
In the week ending October 28, 122 ships exited and 155 ships entered through the Strait of Hormuz — a decline of nearly 70 percent compared to before the war. Since the war began, UKMTO has received reports of at least 144 attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Aden, and the Sea of Oman.
Amid these tanker attacks, oil prices have also risen in the global market. At market close on Friday, the price of Brent crude rose 2.4 percent to $117.64 per barrel — the highest level in six months.
Source: Al Jazeera
