Iran Says 7 Tankers Damaged in Strait of Hormuz in Overnight Attacks

Iran says seven oil tankers were damaged or caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, in what would be the largest single-day vessel count in the strategic waterway since the Iran war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes.
Iranian state television reported on Thursday that four tankers caught fire after being targeted while transferring oil, while three others were damaged and left immobilized after striking naval mines. The report, citing the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), gave no details about possible casualties and did not identify the flags the tankers were sailing under.
The IRGC navy warned that any US attempt to guide tankers through what it called "illegal passages" in the strait could trigger a broader response, including attacks on US military bases across the region. Britain's maritime monitor, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, did not report the incidents, and monitors note some shippers are reluctant to report attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint, with about 21 percent of global petroleum passing through its narrow waters. Any sustained disruption could push crude prices higher. The US is sending a third aircraft carrier and thousands of troops to the region, while Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran remains open to diplomacy but ready to defend itself.
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