War

A massive explosion has rocked an oil tanker at sea, sending thick smoke into the sky as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the vessel struck a naval mine.
Footage shows a blast erupting on the tanker before large plumes of smoke rise above the vessel. However, the footage’s exact date and location could not be independently verified.

Iran Claims Tanker Hit A Naval Mine
According to the IRGC, the tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. The Iranian force claimed the vessel had switched off its positioning and radar systems before attempting to cross what it described as an “illegal route”.
The IRGC also alleged that the vessel had been “deceived by the aggressive American army” before the incident.
In its account, the force said the tanker struck a naval mine, causing a major explosion in the ship’s engine room and bringing the vessel to a halt.
The claims have not been independently verified. The tanker’s identity and ownership also remain unknown.

UKMTO Reports Two Tanker Incidents
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two incidents involving oil tankers in the Arabian Gulf on Friday.
The incidents occurred between 68 and 78 nautical miles northeast of Jubail, a city on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast.
In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an “unidentified projectile”, according to UKMTO. The impact prompted the crew to evacuate, but all crew members were confirmed safe.
The centre reported a second incident involving a tanker that was allegedly hit by an RPG-7 round fired from a small boat.
The projectile reportedly damaged the rear section of the vessel on its port side. No injuries were reported in that incident.

Details Of Explosion Remain Unclear
The explosion shown in the footage has not been conclusively linked to either of the two incidents reported by UKMTO.
While the IRGC attributed the blast to a naval mine, the available information does not independently establish the cause of the explosion or confirm the vessel’s identity.
The reports describe multiple incidents involving tankers in the Arabian Gulf, but key details surrounding the explosion remain uncertain.