The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says there is no evidence behind Iran's claims that vessels are hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran International reports. According to the outlet, ISW said on Friday 13 November that there is no evidence Iran has re-mined the strait.
Iran's army said on Thursday that two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the eastern part of the strait. On Wednesday night the IRGC Navy described two supertankers being immobilised by a "violent explosion", and state media later said those ships had hit mines.
Iran International's report does not set out how ISW reached its finding.
Separately, UKMTO has reclassified one tanker incident in the strait as an "attack". It has not said who was responsible.
Fact check. ISW's assessment is the first independent analysis to challenge Iran's mine accounts. Until now those accounts had been contradicted only by the US military, which recently said all mines had been cleared from the strait. Iran's claims remain without independent confirmation.