Conflicts · Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say two oil tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz
The IRGC says the ships were on an unauthorised route with their navigation and identification systems switched off, a claim made hours after UK maritime monitors reported a projectile hitting a vessel.
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In brief
The IRGC said on Sunday, 1 November 2026, that two oil tankers exploded after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and that one very large tanker was still burning.
Vanguard said one affected ship sailed under the Panamanian flag and that part of it has sunk into the water after the blast and fire.
Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi called the attack on a Nakilat-operated Qatari LNG tanker a dangerous escalation, and Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also issued condemnations.
- Hours before the IRGC statementUK Maritime Trade Operations reports a ship hit by an unknown projectile
- 1 NovIRGC says two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz
The IRGC statement
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Sunday, 1 November 2026, that two oil tankers exploded after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz while sailing through what it called an 'unauthorised route'. Its navy public relations office described one of the vessels as a very large oil tanker that caught fire after a heavy blast and was still burning. The statement said both ships had switched off their navigation and identification systems and were trying to pass covertly. It did not name the vessels and made no mention of casualties.
Independent reports
The UK Maritime Trade Operations office had reported hours earlier that a ship had been hit by an unknown projectile. Vanguard, which monitors global shipping traffic, said one of the affected vessels sailed under the Panamanian flag. According to Vanguard, part of that ship has sunk into the water after the explosion and fire. None of the reports in the articles give a casualty figure.
Iran's restrictions and the US position
Iran has imposed restrictions on ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz and has attacked vessels that, in Tehran's view, break those limits. Reports describe the campaign as an effort to show that Iran controls the strategic waterway and to put pressure on the United States. The IRGC added that the ships were trying to slip through with the support of the American military. US Central Command has denied that ships are hitting mines, and the US military says Iran is using missiles and drones to target vessels.
Regional reaction
The Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain all issued condemnations. Before the tanker incidents, a Qatari LNG tanker operated by Nakilat, the Qatar Gas Transport Company, had been struck in the Gulf. Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, the Council's secretary-general, called that attack a dangerous escalation. The articles do not confirm which party carried out the attacks on the tankers in the strait.
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Sources and context
- BBCTwo oil tankers exploded after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz: Revolutionary Guards claimآبنائے ہرمز میں دو آئل ٹینکر سمندری بارودی سرنگوں سے ٹکرا کر پھٹ گئے: پاسدارانِ انقلاب کا دعویٰ · original in Urdu
- in.grTwo tankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz, say Revolutionary GuardsΔύο τάνκερ προσέκρουσαν σε νάρκες στα Στενά του Ορμούζ, λένε οι Φρουροί της Επανάστασης · original in Greek
- NewsITExplosions on two tankers that hit mines in the Strait of HormuzΕκρήξεις σε δύο τάνκερ που έπεσαν σε νάρκες στα Στενά του Ορμούζ · original in Greek
- Η ΝαυτεμπορικήIran: 2 tankers exploded after hitting minesΙράν: Εξερράγησαν 2 τάνκερ, όταν έπεσαν σε νάρκες · original in Greek
- Places
- Strait of Hormuz, Iran
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