Seafarer killed in Gulf as Iran says ships ablaze in Hormuz

A seafarer was killed when a Greek-owned oil tanker was struck by a projectile in the Gulf, its owner said on Friday, as Iran said several tankers had caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Velos Sapphire was sailing empty to Bahrain when it was hit on Thursday, Athens-based Velos Tankers said in a statement carried by the Greek news agency ANA.

The company said an unidentified projectile likely caused the explosion after striking the vessel’s port quarter and starting a fire.

Iranian media reported on Thursday that five oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire after hitting mines in the strait.