Tehran announced that the Indian supertanker 'El Gaia' suffered a fire on board after colliding with a sea mine while crossing a restricted zone of the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred in waters that Tehran considers under its jurisdiction.
The Iranian government attributed responsibility for the accident to the sea mine, suggesting that the vessel would have struck the explosive device during the crossing of the restricted zone in the strategic strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway of vital importance for world oil trade, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Any incident in this region has the potential to significantly affect international maritime traffic.
Iranian authorities did not provide additional details on the extent of the damage to the supertanker or on any casualties resulting from the collision with the sea mine.
