Supertanker EL GAIA catches fire after hitting naval mine in Strait of Hormuz, IRGC says

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said the supertanker EL GAIA struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. IRGC officials stated the Strait of Hormuz 'is closed and remains under our surveillance,' reasserting Iranian control claims over the waterway.

Why this matters. A large tanker fire from mines reinforces insurer and shipper reluctance to transit Hormuz, feeding the spike in benchmark tanker day-rates past $1 million and further tightening Gulf crude exports.