Tehran, Nov. 1 – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that two oil tankers, including a supertanker, detonated after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz earlier that day, saying the vessels had been sailing an unauthorized route and had disabled their navigation and identification systems.
According to a statement on the IRGC’s official Sepah News outlet, the supertanker “suffered a massive explosion and is burning,” and both vessels were stopped when the blasts occurred.
After the explosions the tankers were reported adrift, with no crew operating radio transponders. IRGC footage released of the event shows the supertanker’s deck ablaze and a large plume of smoke rising.
Iran’s navy says the mine strikes were part of its expanded “security zone” in the strait, a measure it has maintained since February 28 following joint Israeli‑U.S. strikes on Iranian territory.
Background
Since revoking safe passage for vessels registered under or affiliated with Israel and the United States, Iran has tightened monitoring of all ships entering the Strait, which it says is a key transit corridor for global oil shipments.
The IRGC’s announcement comes amid rising tensions after the early‑summer Israeli‑U.S. strike that targeted Iranian air defense sites, prompting Iran to clamp down on what it deems “violating” traffic in its waters.
The statement was issued shortly after Tehran’s Ministry of Defense issued a warning to international shipping that any vessel using the unauthorized route would face interception and potential damage to property or crew.
No independent verification of the explosions has yet been provided. The IRGC remains the sole source reporting the detonation and the details of the incident.
