IRANIAN TANKER REPORTS SIGHTING MINE IN GULF An Iranian shuttle tanker reported spotting a floating mine in the central Gulf on Tuesday about 50 miles west of Lavan Island, regional shipping sources said. The Khark III, owned by the National Iranian Tanker Co, gave the position of the mine as 27 degrees 14 minutes north, 52.06 east. There was no indication of measures being taken against the mine, which is in Iranian territorial waters.