Two massive oil tankers, each laden with approximately two million barrels of crude, caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported on Saturday. According to state news agency IRNA, one detonation triggered an explosion and a fierce blaze, while the second vessel was engulfed in flames and left immobilised in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
Iranian authorities did not identify the ships or the origin of their cargo, but claimed both vessels had switched off their positioning and radar systems to navigate an unauthorised passage. The IRGC alleged that one tanker had attempted the transit with United States military support, following warnings earlier this week from Iranian naval commanders that any ship deactivating navigation systems would be treated as hostile. Tehran has asserted control over the waterway since war with the US and Israel began in late February, requiring all transiting vessels to seek its clearance.
The strikes mark a sharp escalation in a corridor that handled roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption before the conflict. Following a surge in attacks and a reciprocal US naval counter-blockade, daily oil transit through the strait collapsed from nearly 20.8 million barrels on October 8 to just 2.9 million by October 11, according to tracking firm Kpler. The disruption has spurred global energy price spikes and inflation, even as US President Donald Trump ruled out ground forces or nuclear options, pointing instead to a potential post-midterm negotiated settlement.