An oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly striking a naval mine, according to Iranian media, as Tehran said it had made progress in talks with Oman on mechanisms to manage shipping through the strategic waterway.
Iranian reports said the tanker had deviated from an Iran-designated shipping route before hitting the mine.
The circumstances of the explosion, including the vessel’s identity and whether there were casualties, were not immediately clear from the reports.
The incident came as Iran and Oman held several rounds of talks in Tehran on Friday and Saturday focused on the safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the discussions had been fruitful and that progress had been made on common principles and operational mechanisms for managing navigation while respecting the sovereign rights of the two coastal states.
The Omani delegation left Tehran on Saturday, but technical and political consultations between the two sides are continuing, Baqaei said.
He added that there had been no change in the status of navigation through the strait.
The latest developments have heightened concerns over maritime security in the waterway, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.
The tanker explosion was reported against the backdrop of heightened tensions involving Iran and the United States, with the strait at the centre of wider disputes over shipping access and control.
The reported mine incident could further complicate efforts to restore safe and predictable commercial navigation.
Oman’s involvement in the talks reflects its position as one of the two countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran has said future arrangements should protect safe shipping while recognising the sovereign rights of the coastal states.
Bowers, Iran says the status of navigation through the strait remains unchanged, even as the reported tanker explosion and continuing diplomatic efforts underscore the risks facing one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.