Iran's Revolutionary Guards say three tankers hit mines near the Strait of Hormuz; Araghchi says Tehran is talking to mediators as Trump plays down Vance letter
The IRGC navy said three tankers caught fire after hitting mines on an 'unauthorised' route, and Iran's regular navy reported a fourth. None of the ships was named. UKMTO said a vessel that sank off Oman's Khasab was a dhow. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was in contact with mediators on its seven-day plan, and Donald Trump said a letter from JD Vance to Iran was about medical supplies.
The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday 29 October that three tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines over a 24-hour period while trying to use what it called an “unauthorised southern route” through the Strait of Hormuz. It said the ships had turned off their navigation systems and ignored warnings, The National reported. The vessels were not named and no casualties were reported.
Iran’s regular navy said separately that another tanker hit mines in a “prohibited and unsafe” area east of the strait before noon on Thursday, caught fire and was immobilised, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Tasnim. It did not give the ship’s name, flag or crew size and accused US President Donald Trump of making misleading claims about passage.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) said a vessel caught fire and sank nine nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, on Thursday. It said regional authorities identified the vessel as a dhow and that the crew had been evacuated safely, Reuters reported. UKMTO did not give a cause.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Wednesday that Iran remained “in close and ongoing contact with intermediaries” on ideas to implement its seven-day plan “in even less than a week”. Iran’s conditions include a regional ceasefire, an end to the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, AFP reported.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Vice President JD Vance wrote to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, at Trump’s direction to revive talks. Asked whether he had directed Vance to restart negotiations, Trump said “no”, adding: “Basically it’s about getting supplies in to help people that are not well.”
Background
The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February. Iran has since claimed control over shipping through Hormuz, and the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. See also: Araghchi warns any Israeli-led attack would be ‘devastating’ for markets.
Sources
- Trump downplays Vance letter sent to Iran · The National
- Oil tanker catches fire after hitting naval mines near Strait of Hormuz: Iranian Navy · Anadolu Agency
- Vessel catches fire, sinks off Oman after maritime security incident, UKMTO says · Dawn (Reuters)
- Iran says discussing plan with mediators to end war, reopen Hormuz · Arab News (AFP)
- Iran war live: Houthis' Taiz siege may be war crime of starvation, HRW says · Al Jazeera
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