Oman has announced that the naval forces of the country rescued 25 sailors from the commercial ship "Riti" which caught fire due to an attack. This incident occurred while Iran reported the detention of three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Details of the Sailors' Rescue
The Maritime Security Center of Oman stated in a statement that the rescue operation took place after the Riti, which was flying the Panama flag, was targeted and caught fire. The center noted that the sailors required medical attention after their rescue, but did not provide further details.
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Situation in the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes, has become a focal point of tensions in the region. Since the onset of the war in the Middle East on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the country has restricted the movement of ships in this strait. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a statement that American forces have succeeded in clearing the main shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian sea mines.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a ship 40 miles (74 kilometers) south of Iran's Lavan Island was struck by an unknown project and caught fire. Fortunately, the sailors on this ship are safe and no environmental impact has been reported.
Developments Related to Oil Tankers
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran announced that three oil tankers have been detained following unspecified incidents or collisions with mines. In a statement, the military body said: "Two violating oil tankers, one in the eastern part and the other in the western part of the Strait of Hormuz, faced incidents while attempting to pass through unauthorized routes and were stopped in the waters south of the strait."
Iran has requested that ships use designated routes in the Strait of Hormuz and coordinate their passage with the country's armed forces. According to the IRGC, these oil tankers had turned off all their navigation and positioning systems and were attempting to exit unauthorized routes with the support of "terrorist forces" from the U.S. The IRGC also mentioned several radio warnings that were given to these ships.
In a separate statement, the IRGC reported the detention of a supertanker carrying two million barrels of oil, stating that this tanker was stopped after an explosion caused by a collision with a sea mine. According to this body, this is the third oil tanker that has exploded and caught fire today due to attempts to pass through unauthorized routes.
The United States has reacted to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz by taking actions in Iranian ports, limiting Tehran's ability to export oil and trade.
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