Explosions Reported in Southern Strait of Hormuz as Iran Warns Ships Over Unauthorised Routes

TEHRAN: Several loud explosions have been reported in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened maritime tensions and Iranian warnings against vessels using routes Tehran considers unauthorised.

Iran’s Fars News Agency, citing unidentified military sources, said oil tankers may have struck naval mines while travelling through routes that had not been authorised by Iranian authorities.

The circumstances surrounding the reported explosions, including the number of vessels involved and whether any ships were damaged, were not independently confirmed.

The reports come a day after Reuters cited an Iranian official as saying that Tehran intended to close routes it considers illegal in the strategic waterway, including passages near Oman’s coast.

Iran has warned vessels against using routes that it says lack its approval, as tensions over maritime access and regional security continue.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping corridor for global energy supplies, making any disruption to commercial traffic a concern for oil markets and international shipping operators.

Further independent confirmation is needed to establish whether the reported explosions involved naval mines or resulted in damage to oil tankers.