TEHRAN: Iran’s state television reported on Thursday that seven oil tankers were either attacked or hit naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, in what could be the largest single day of vessel damage in the waterway since the Iran war began in late February.
Citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guard’s navy, the report said four of the tankers were transferring oil when they were targeted and caught fire. Three more were damaged and immobilised after striking naval mines. The report did not give details on casualties or the flags of the vessels.
Shipping data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence said tanker operators willing to take the risk have been moving oil from Gulf producers through the strait at night, using a United States military protected lane near Oman’s coast with their location systems and mobile phones switched off. The oil is then transferred to other tankers in the Gulf of Oman for shipment to customers in Asia.
Aramco’s chief executive said the amount of oil moving through a pipeline that bypasses the strait has more than tripled, with the East West pipeline’s capacity rising from 2 million to 7 million barrels a day. The company has also used drones to assess damage from Houthi attacks on oilfields.
