![Daily life continues in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, as Iranians spend time along the city’s waterfront at sunset in Bandar Abbas, Iran on September 12, 2026. [Fatemeh Bahrami - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AA-20260912-42452288-42452273-DAILY_LIFE_IN_IRANS_STRATEGIC_PORT_CITY_OF_BANDAR_ABBAS-scaled-e1790237096329.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
An oil tanker caught fire after hitting a sea mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz while sailing in a prohibited area with its navigation systems switched off, the Iranian army’s naval command said on Sunday.
In a statement, the naval command’s public relations department said the incident took place before noon when the tanker struck a sea mine after switching off its identification systems and entering a restricted area.
The collision caused a fire to break out on the tanker, the statement added.
Mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan are continuing between the United States and Iran to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war and resolving disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on 28 February 2026. A ceasefire was reached in April, but fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed in July amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
READ: Trump says return to Iran war ‘highly unlikely’ if talks advance
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