U.S. Central Command rejected assertions Wednesday that sea mines have recently damaged commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf, labeling reports from Iranian-controlled media as false. The command stated that thousands of commercial vessels continue to use the primary transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz safely, and that those lanes have been cleared of naval mines by U.S. forces.
The denial follows several claims by the Iranian navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including reports that a tanker caught fire on Oct 27 and that two supertankers carrying 4.5 million barrels of crude oil were disabled on Oct 23. While Centcom dismisses these strike claims, it comes amid increased tension as the IRGC has warned vessels that the waterway is closed to those who do not coordinate their passage with Iranian armed forces.