Iranian state media has reported that five ships have been hit by naval mines in the last 24 hours, according to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC stated that two oil tankers collided with naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire, in addition to two prior instances of tankers hitting mines overnight.
The recent incidents bring the total number of impacted tankers to five, with some possibly still drifting or on fire. The Iranian navy has attributed the fires to the tankers ignoring maritime warnings and entering prohibited areas without coordination.
The situation remains tense, with the US and Iran involved in a longstanding conflict, and the White House has been relatively silent on the issue following the recent midterm elections. The frequent Iranian attacks have raised questions about the potential for further US action, with some reports suggesting a possible "short and intensive" new attack on Iran.
However, the outcome and consequences of such an action remain uncertain, and the war remains deeply unpopular among the American public. The Iranian leaders believe they have the upper hand in the current situation, at least in terms of political leverage.