Oil Tanker Fire Reported in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Says

Iran's naval forces reported Wednesday that a fire broke out on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway where Iran frequently targets vessels attempting to cross without its permission. Since the Middle East war began in late February with US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran has imposed strict navigation restrictions in this vital corridor for oil and LNG supplies, requiring ships to use approved routes. The US responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ports and assistance to tankers transiting the strait, which typically carried about one-fifth of global oil. Iran's statement said the tanker hit a naval mine in a prohibited zone east of the strait. The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed receiving a report of the incident but had no information on crew status or damage. Iran has repeatedly announced ship fires in recent weeks, while the US military said it had cleared all mines from the waterway.