A ship in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after striking a sea mine, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said, as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate.
According to the IRGC, a supertanker burst into flames after colliding with the mine. The incident comes at a time when US-Iran tensions are already running high, and has raised fresh concern over maritime security and the growing threat level in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident occurred a day after the US military struck two launchers on Iran's Larak Island on Sunday, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Tim Hawkins.
Tensions between the US and Iran continue to mount, with the standoff spreading from the Strait of Hormuz as far as Jordan. The US has accused Iranian forces of preparing to lay sea mines, after which it emerged that Iranian launchers on Larak Island had been targeted. Iran, in turn, has claimed missile and drone strikes on US military bases in Jordan in response.
CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins said Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel were preparing to launch rockets fitted with sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military monitored the activity before striking Iran's two launchers on Larak Island.
The US maintains that the Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for international trade and that keeping shipping lanes safe is a priority. CENTCOM has also claimed that it completed the clearance of sea mines from international shipping routes last week.
Amid the escalating situation, Donald Trump had issued a stern warning to Iran, saying that any ship or boat found laying mines would be destroyed immediately. Trump had described this as a "zero tolerance" policy on mine-laying.