17/10/2026
Share:
17/10/2026
Share:
TEHRAN, Oct 17: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Saturday that a second supertanker had struck a naval mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions over shipping restrictions in the strategic waterway.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy claimed the tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and had switched off its positioning and radar systems while attempting to navigate what Tehran described as an “unauthorized” route.
The mine strike triggered a major explosion in the vessel’s engine room, leaving the tanker immobilised, according to the statement.
The IRGC did not identify the vessel or provide details about its crew, possible casualties or the extent of any environmental damage. The claims had not been independently verified.
Second reported mine strike
The latest announcement followed an earlier claim by the IRGC that another supertanker had struck a naval mine while attempting to pass through a route Iran considers unauthorised.
The reports raise fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Iran has imposed restrictions on shipping through parts of the waterway amid its conflict with the United States, insisting that vessels comply with routes authorised by Tehran.
Washington and its regional allies have rejected Iran’s restrictions, maintaining that commercial vessels must be able to exercise freedom of navigation through international shipping routes.
Global oil shipments at risk
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, carrying a substantial share of global oil shipments.
Any disruption to tanker traffic through the waterway could affect international energy supplies, shipping costs and oil prices.
The latest claims could not be independently confirmed, and there was no immediate independent information about the identity or condition of the reported second tanker.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged mine strike, including the vessel’s location, the presence of naval mines and the extent of any damage, remained unclear.
