Iran Says 4 Tankers On Fire After Hitting Mines In Hormuz, Day After US Declared Routes Cleared

Last Updated:October 30, 2026, 00:15 IST

IRGC said the vessels had allegedly switched off their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings from the navy.

A vssel transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah in the east of the UAE on October 13. (AFP photo)

At least four tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s armed forces said on Thursday, a day after the US military said it had cleared key shipping routes through the strategic waterway.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said three oil tankers had exploded and caught fire over the past 24 hours while attempting to cross the strait via the “unauthorised southern route”.

“Over the past 24 hours, three violating oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking mines while attempting to pass through the unauthorised southern route of the Strait of Hormuz,” the IRGC’s statement said.

The vessels had allegedly switched off their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings from the IRGC navy, it added.

The Iranian army later reported that another tanker had struck a mine east of the strait, leaving it damaged and unable to move. The identities of the vessels, their flags and the exact timing of the incidents were not immediately known.

Iran Challenges US Mine-Clearing Claim

The reports came a day after the US military maintained that mines had been cleared from key shipping routes. US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the region, has said that mines along primary transit routes had been cleared.

On Thursday, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi challenged the US account in a post on X, saying: “Prove your Hormuz mine-clearing claim with independent evidence, not statements!”

The IRGC also warned vessels against using the southern route near the Omani coast, which Iran considers unauthorised. It said the route remained mined and held shipowners and crews responsible for attempting to cross it, while dismissing CENTCOM’s statements on social media.

Separately, the British maritime agency UKMTO said it had received a report of a vessel on fire in the strait. Regional authorities identified it as a dhow, which caught fire, began listing and eventually sank. Its crew were safely evacuated, UKMTO said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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What caused the four tankers to catch fire in the Strait of Hormuz?

At least four tankers caught fire after striking naval mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

How did the US military and Iran differ regarding the Strait of Hormuz shipping routes?

The US military stated that primary transit routes and key shipping channels through the strategic waterway had been cleared of mines. In contrast, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps dismissed the claim and asserted that the unauthorized southern route near the Omani coast remained heavily mined.

What happened to the dhow reported on fire in the Strait of Hormuz?

Regional authorities and the British maritime agency UKMTO identified the vessel as a dhow that caught fire, began listing, and eventually sank, though its crew was safely evacuated.

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