Three Oil Tankers Ablaze in Strait of Hormuz After Hitting Mines, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Say

• by Shimanta Das
• October 30, 2026

Three oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday, according to a report. The incident comes just a day after the US military insisted it had demined key routes through the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint since the Middle East war began on February 28, with Iran significantly restricting maritime traffic through a route that normally handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption. Since the summer, 5 billion barrels of oil have transited the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring its critical importance to global energy markets.

In recent weeks, Iran has reported multiple vessels striking sea mines, prompting US Central Command (CENTCOM), which runs military operations in the region, to reaffirm on social media its insistence that all mines in “primary transit routes” have been cleared. CENTCOM has maintained that all internationally recognized primary transit routes through the strait were cleared of mines by US forces and remain clear, and President Donald Trump declared the southern lane mine-free at the end of August. However, Tehran’s mine claim on October 29 directly contradicts CENTCOM’s position that the strait’s primary routes have been cleared. The White House said it would not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist, while noting that all options remain on the table.

The timing of the tanker fires is particularly sensitive. His remarks came after Iran issued over the weekend a list of conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained largely closed since the start of the Middle East war in late February. The closure has disrupted global oil supplies and raised fears of a wider conflict. Minesweepers detect and neutralize naval mines, and the latest incident highlights the persistent threat posed by sea mines in the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies, and any disruption has far-reaching consequences for international markets.

As tensions escalate, the international community is closely monitoring the situation. The US has consistently asserted that the primary transit routes are safe, but Iran’s claims of mines and the resulting fires on tankers raise serious questions about the security