Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, while a separate tanker was hit by two projectiles off Qatar, raising concerns about Gulf shipping.
The Guards said one tanker hit a mine while trying to cross a route they called unauthorized. They said a second supertanker caught fire farther east as it left the route. They added that a tugboat sent to help put out the second fire also caught fire.
The vessels’ names, flags, crew conditions and the extent of the damage were not disclosed. The Iranian claims have not been independently verified. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said the incident off Qatar happened at 11:20 p.m. UTC on Wednesday, November 4, about 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal.
It did not identify the tanker or say where the projectiles came from. It said the crew’s condition, damage and environmental impact were unconfirmed. Available reports do not show whether the strike off Qatar was connected to the incidents Iran described.
Because important details remain unknown, crews and shipping companies face continued uncertainty as they assess the risks of sailing in the region’s waters.