Iran Says Four Oil Tankers Destroyed by Mines Near Strait of Hormuz

Four oil tankers were destroyed after hitting naval mines in an area south of the Strait of Hormuz proscribed by Iran as prohibited for navigation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC said on Wednesday, as attacks on vessels in the region intensify while crude oil flows have dipped from recent highs. The four tankers are still ablaze, while two other vessels have been seized, the Revolutionary Guards said.

While flows have recovered substantially from the lows in the spring, the security situation in and near the Strait of Hormuz has actually deteriorated, with a higher number of attacks on tankers in recent weeks. 9 million bpd in September, according to data from Vortexa cited by Reuters.