Iran's Revolutionary Guards say two supertankers hit naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz

Summary

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy said two supertankers that attempted to use an unauthorised route south of the Strait of Hormuz struck naval mines, and the resulting explosions and intense fires disabled both vessels' engine rooms and left them stranded in the waterway. Citing an IRGC source, the Fars news agency said traffic by violating vessels had halted after strikes on three oil tankers on Thursday, the destruction of navigation-aid systems on violating vessels, and the destruction of another violating vessel on Thursday night, and warned that if oil smuggling resumes the IRGC's response will be "far more forceful". Africanews separately reported that a ship transiting the strait was hit by an unknown projectile on Thursday, according to the UK. All of these accounts come from the IRGC and its sources, as reported by Middle East Eye and Africanews.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   23 Oct 2026, 23:45 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that the IRGC navy said two supertankers using an unauthorised route south of the Strait of Hormuz struck naval mines, leaving their engine rooms disabled and the vessels stranded.

2. Africanews

   24 Oct 2026, 09:27 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that two 'unauthorised' supertankers hit naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy, and that the UK reported a ship transiting the strait was hit by an unknown projectile on Thursday.