An oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after hitting a sea mine, Iranian military-linked state media reported. The same reports claimed that Iran had intercepted at least six vessels in the preceding 24 hours.
The tanker, which has not yet been identified, allegedly deviated from its designated route in the strait before striking the mine, according to Tasnim news agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran has issued repeated warnings to ships to avoid non-approved routes through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening them with attack amid escalating tensions with the United States. The IRGC asserted that it had stopped six ships from crossing the strait overnight, claiming they were attempting an "unauthorized crossing" and that warning shots were fired.
These interceptions followed a report from Saturday, when the IRGC stated it had halted four other vessels from attempting to traverse the waterway.
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that once facilitated the transport of 20% of the world's oil supply, has seen a 70% decline since a cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran broke down earlier this month. MarineTraffic.com data indicated only a few dozen ships are now crossing daily.
The majority of vessels currently transiting the strait are either adhering to Iran's approved route or utilizing "shadow-fleet" tactics to navigate undetected. Concerns about global oil supply have also been heightened by recent incidents in the Red Sea, where Iran-backed forces have attacked tankers linked to Saudi Arabia.
The ongoing tensions in the waterways led to nearly two weeks of retaliatory strikes between the U.S. and Iran. President Trump had previously warned of a potential full-scale war if the waterway was not kept open and free for all. However, he halted the attacks over the weekend in favor of pursuing diplomatic solutions, while maintaining that the U.S. remained prepared for further action if Iran did not comply with U.S. demands.