Tehran, Iran, July 26 (ANI): An oil tanker exploded after allegedly striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz after deviating from a shipping route designated by Tehran, Iranian media reported on Sunday.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the incident involved a “rogue” oil tanker that had reportedly moved away from the route specified by Iranian authorities before colliding with a sea mine.
Tasnim reported that Iran had previously warned that ships deviating from its designated route would be responsible for any consequences. Iranian authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the reported incident at the time of publication.
Meanwhile, despite the incident, talks between Iran and Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and nearby territorial waterways have shown progress, according to two regional sources cited by CBS News.
The report said that while discussions were moving in a positive direction, more time would be required to reach an agreement. Omani officials reportedly travelled to Tehran on Friday for negotiations, with the diplomatic efforts coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause American strikes on Iran, which had continued for 13 consecutive nights.
According to CBS News, regional officials indicated that the pause in US strikes was intentional and aimed at avoiding disruption to sensitive in-person diplomacy. The White House and US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not respond to requests for comment.
A report by The New York Times said military leaders had warned that a wider campaign could significantly reduce supplies of Patriot missile interceptors, potentially exposing US troops, Gulf partners and key installations to retaliatory attacks. Senior officials also expressed concerns over broader economic instability and escalating regional tensions.
Earlier on July 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of violating the Iran-US memorandum of understanding by establishing what he described as an unauthorised alternative shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz and diverting commercial vessels away from corridors approved by Tehran.
“It appeared that they insisted on creating other routes alongside the one Iran had designated to ensure safe and free passage [through the Strait of Hormuz],” Araghchi said, according to Press TV.
On Saturday, July 25, naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted four commercial ships in the southern Strait of Hormuz over a 24-hour period, reportedly attempting to force the vessels to stop and change course.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that the vessels were travelling through what it described as an “illegal and unsafe route,” though officials did not reveal the names or nationalities of the ships involved. (ANI)
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