The trawler, owned jointly by Australian and Arab companies, was on contract to Iran. An owners' representative said in Dubai that the ship was being towed to Dubai and the company had decided to pull out all its 10-trawler fleet from the area.

A French mine sweeper discovered a mine in the Gulf of Oman near the United Arab Emirates port of Khor-Al-Fakkan, near where it found another mine the previous day, the Defense Ministry in Paris said.

A ministry statement said the mine was in "combat position" about 35 feet underwater. Earlier yesterday, the ministry said a Soviet-made MO-8 mine was found Thursday moored about 200 feet below the surface.

Iran has been blamed for the mines.

Iraqi warplanes fire Exocets from a considerable distance, which means the missiles can mistake any vessel in Iranian waters for an Iranian tanker. The Baghdad government has pledged to impede its foe's oil exports.

Iran's ship attacks are carried out mainly by Revolutionary Guards in speedboats against vessels sailing in the neutral sectors of the waterway, south of the war zone.

The 10th convoy since U.S. warships began escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers 21/2 months ago resumed its voyage down the Persian Gulf yesterday.

The missile frigate Hawes provided escort for the lone tanker in the convoy, the 46,723-ton Gas Prince, a liquefied gas carrier.