Iran-US Tensions Escalate as Oil Tankers Hit by Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz
Two oil tankers, carrying Saudi crude worth 2 million barrels each, were struck by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The incident is seen as part of a broader confrontation between Iran and the US.
The CNBC report tied the mine incident to retaliatory strikes, with Iran's military making strikes on US bases in the Middle East after US forces completed a fresh round of strikes against Iran on Tuesday stateside.
According to Reuters, the two supertankers were struck by unknown projectiles within minutes of each other while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi Arabian-flagged very large crude carrier Sidr was struck about 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman at around 1952 UTC (GMT), with the Liberian-flagged VLCC Senegal Prosperity struck minutes later about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab.
The crew aboard both tankers were reported safe, but the incident has raised concerns over the safety of shipping in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil trade, carrying one of every five barrels of the world's oil.