U.S. Central Command declares Strait of Hormuz cleared of mines, traffic resumes
U. S. Central Command said on 31 October that the primary transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared of Iranian mines, allowing merchant vessels to resume passage. Earlier in the week, Iran's navy reported that an oil tanker without active tracking struck naval mines in the eastern Strait of Hormuz and caught fire, describing the vessel as illegal.
Iranian officials later said three tankers had hit mines, prompting concerns about shipping disruptions and fuel prices. A ship transiting the strait subsequently caught fire after two explosives attached to its hull detonated, though the crew remained unharmed. A verified safety report noted that a tanker fire followed the attachment of explosive devices by small boats, pushing Brent crude to $117 per barrel. Omani maritime authorities rescued 25 crew members from a Panamanian-flagged crude tanker that was ablaze, amid Iranian claims that several tankers were halted for using unauthorised routes.
