Iran Claims Two Oil Tankers Struck Mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards report two oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz; U.S. military disputes the claims.

Editorial Desk

October 17, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Tehran, Iran — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported on Saturday, July 18, 2026, that two oil tankers were set ablaze after striking naval mines while navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, the vessels were transporting a combined total of approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil when the incidents occurred. The IRGC claims the explosions brought the tankers to a halt.

The Revolutionary Guards further alleged that the crews abandoned the ships following encouragement from the U.S. military. Iranian officials stated that the vessels were subsequently left under the control of American personnel who intended to guide them through an unauthorized route.

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These assertions regarding the cause of the fires and the subsequent handling of the vessels have been disputed by the U.S. military. At this time, no independent sources have verified the reports provided by the Iranian authorities.

The incident coincides with reports of a fresh exchange of strikes between U.S. and Iranian forces in the region. Tensions remain high as international observers monitor the situation in the critical maritime chokepoint.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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