Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says two supertankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but the vessels have not been identified and the claims have not been independently confirmed.
The IRGC said each ship was carrying about two million barrels of crude oil and accused both of taking a route Iran had not authorized. It described an explosion and fire aboard the first tanker, then said a second vessel struck a mine hours later, caught fire and was left immobilized. Iranian state media further alleged that the ships had switched off their tracking and radar systems; the Guard said one was attempting to pass with U.S. support.
No names, flags, crew details or independent verification of the reported strikes were available in the accounts published by Sunday, October 18. The claims come amid mounting attacks on shipping and restrictions around the strait, a vital energy route that carried about one-fifth of global oil consumption before the war. Kpler data cited by Al Jazeera showed oil flows through the waterway fell from 20.8 million barrels on October 8 to 2.9 million on October 11, underscoring the potential impact of continued disruption.