Iran says oil tanker EL GAIA hit mines near Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Monday evening that the oil tanker EL GAIA exploded after hitting naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC claimed the Panama-flagged vessel was using an "illegal route" in an area closed to navigation, stating, "the entire tanker is in flames." This incident occurred as a meeting between Iran and Gulf states in Oman, aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to regular tanker traffic, was postponed. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi stated the postponement was "to ensure appropriate conditions for constructive dialogue." Quiet contacts have been ongoing to restore commercial traffic through the strait, which remains significantly below pre-war levels.