Two Oil Tankers Catch Fire After Hitting Mines in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Claims

November 8, 2026

Tehran: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy claimed early Sunday that two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz through the allegedly restricted route were hit by landmines and burst into flames.

According to a statement released on the IRGC’s official news website, Sepah News, one tanker struck a landmine in the eastern part of the Strait, while the other was hit while crossing the waterway.

The statement said that both ships caught fire after the explosions. Both tankers also had their navigation and GPS systems turned off.

The IRGC warned that any ship cooperating with the US military and defying Iranian rules and entering the restricted area of ​​the strait will surely be hit by sea mines, Xinhua reported.

US Military Targets Ship in Gulf of Oman

Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on the social media platform X that its forces had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

According to CENTCOM, the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted several times to violate the US naval blockade.

The US command reported that the crew of the St. Kitts-flagged cargo ship, M/V Huda, was instructed to evacuate the targeted areas. Subsequently, US military aircraft launched precision munitions strikes on the ship’s stern, rendering it inoperable.

CENTCOM claimed that the cargo ship was attempting to exit territorial waters after docking at an Iranian port.

US claims to have diverted 147 commercial vessels

US Central Command stated that its forces have diverted 147 commercial vessels since July. Additionally, five commercial vessels that defied blockade orders were disabled.

CENTCOM also claimed that US forces have previously destroyed 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers. The US alleges that these vessels were part of a multi-billion dollar clandestine oil trade network operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran-US tensions over the Strait of Hormuz

Tensions between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz are steadily increasing. On February 28, Iran tightened its grip on the waterway, blocking the safe passage of Israeli and US-linked vessels. This move followed joint attacks by the two countries on Iranian territory.

In response, the United States imposed a naval blockade against Iran. This development has heightened tensions in the region regarding maritime security and international trade.