Iran's IRGC mines set two oil tankers ablaze in Strait of Hormuz
IRGC claims two tankers hit mines and were set on fire, while Tehran threatens further attacks on shipping and undersea cables.
Key facts
- IRGC said two oil tankers struck mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz and were set ablaze, according to its statement.
- UK Maritime Trade Operations reported an incident 121 nautical miles east of Duqm, noting no damage or casualties.
- IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mojabi threatened to target undersea internet cables and said new weapons would be unveiled.
- A US official dismissed the IRGC claim that an air defence system shot down a US MQ‑9 drone over the strait.
- Arsenio Dominguez, IMO secretary‑general, said about 6,000 seafarers have been stranded in the strait since the war began.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers struck mines it had laid in the southern section of the Strait of Hormuz and were set on fire, according to a statement released on 20 October 2026.
UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that an incident involving an oil tanker and military forces occurred 121 nautical miles east of the Omani city of Duqm, but the report said there was no damage or casualties and did not identify the vessel.
The IRGC also said its air defence system had shot down a US MQ‑9 drone over the strait, a claim that a US official said was untrue.
In a separate statement, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mojabi threatened to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf and the strait, saying new weapons would be unveiled to remove US military presence from the region.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran would retaliate against any US attack, adding that “we absolutely do not leave any blow unanswered.”
Context
The incident occurs amid a war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route that is subject to the right of transit passage under international law. The war has led to blockades and increased tensions in the region.
How outlets headlined it
- EuronewsIRGC mines set tankers ablaze as Tehran threatens expanded attacks
- Al JazeeraPakistan army chief in Tehran: Can diplomacy prevent new US-Iran fighting?
- Fox NewsIran regime under pressure as rebel groups escalate attacks in volatile southeast
- The Japan TimesIran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence U.S. midterms, officials say
How this was made
Compiled by our AI newsroom from 4 independent outlets, checked by a separate AI editor against the sources. Only claims found in the sources are reported. Spot an error? Every source is linked below.
Correction or source request? simoneggert16@gmail.com
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