Supertanker hit by explosion and left engulfed in flames

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has announced that two tankers struck naval mines in an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, and that one of them, a supertanker, suffered a powerful explosion and is engulfed in flames. The military body has not specified flags, casualties or damage.

The Strait of Hormuz is once again the point where shipping traffic and politics collide. Iran's **Revolutionary Guard** reported late on Sunday that two tankers described as abusa exploded after hitting naval mines in an unauthorized route through the passage. According to **Tasnim**, the agency linked to the elite military force, one of the vessels was a supertanker that "suffered a powerful explosion and is engulfed in flames".

## Thirty incidents in three weeks

The announcement does not come in isolation. Over the past three weeks, Iran has reported around **30 incidents** involving ships, at least **20** of which were caused by naval mines. The Revolutionary Guard claims it keeps this strategic waterway under its control. It has not specified the flags of the stricken vessels nor reported possible casualties or the extent of the damage.

The absence of that data leaves open the questions that weigh most on the market: what cargo the supertanker was carrying, who owns it and how long the route could remain cut off. Any answer moves insurance premiums and freight rates on one of the most closely watched energy routes in the world.

## Iran's offer to reopen the passage

Alongside the incidents, Tehran is holding indirect talks with the United States through **Qatar** to end the conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman **Ismail Bagaei** said at a press conference in Tehran that if Washington accepts its conditions, a plan could be launched to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within **two days** and begin deeper negotiations.

"If Iran's legitimate demands are accepted and met, there is a possibility that the entire plan could be implemented within two days, security in the Strait of Hormuz restored and the negotiation process begun," Bagaei said. The diplomat stressed that everything "depends entirely on Washington's will and decision" and described Iran's demands as "reasonable and logical".

## The port blockade, on the table

Among those conditions is that the United States lift the blockade it has imposed on the Persian country's ports and vessels. It is the point that links the diplomatic negotiation to shipping traffic: without an agreement, the passage remains the scene of incidents and the risk to cargo does not decrease.

Hormuz is the natural outlet for the crude oil of much of the Gulf, and any closure, even a partial one, is felt in prices and alternative routes. For now, what is confirmed is the Iranian announcement of two stricken tankers and a supertanker on fire, with no flags or damage assessment. With that level of information, any figure on economic impact should be treated as provisional.