Hormuz Tankers on Fire: IRGC Claims Mines Hit Ships in Strait

Hormuz tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while one vessel was confirmed damaged in a separate incident. The IRGC said two oil tankers caught fire after explosions. It said the ships were travelling on routes that Tehran considers unauthorised. A third tanker was also reported hit after striking a mine, according to the IRGC statement carried by Iranian media. The claims were reported by Iranian media and picked up by international outlets. None of these claims has been independently verified.

Every claim about the fires comes from the IRGC, and none of it has been confirmed by an independent source. The IRGC did not disclose the names, flags, ownership, crews or casualties of the vessels. The circumstances of the reported explosions have not been independently verified. This article attributes each claim to the IRGC. What is confirmed separately is set out below. The Hormuz tankers at the centre of the claims remain unidentified in the IRGC statements.

What the IRGC Claims About the Hormuz tankers

The IRGC said one vessel, described as a supertanker, struck a naval mine. The explosion caused a fire, according to the IRGC. The second tanker was allegedly travelling under US military escort or aircraft protection, the IRGC said. The IRGC said both vessels had switched off their navigation and identification systems before attempting the passage. The IRGC said the tankers were left immobilised and burning near the southern coast of the strait.

The IRGC also said a third tanker exploded after striking a naval mine. The claim was carried by Iranian media. The IRGC said the third vessel was also travelling on a route Tehran considers unauthorised. No independent source has confirmed the report about the third tanker. The names, flags and ownership of all three vessels remain undisclosed. The Hormuz tankers in the IRGC account were not named, and no crew details were given.

What Is Confirmed About the Hormuz tankers

One incident is confirmed. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, confirmed that one of its vessels sustained damage following an attack in the UAE's territorial waters in the Gulf on Tuesday afternoon. ADNOC did not say whether the damage was connected to the IRGC claims. The confirmation came from the company itself, not from the IRGC.

A second confirmed incident came from the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, UKMTO. The agency said a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, northeast of Lima. UKMTO did not name the vessel. The report was separate from the IRGC claims. It shows that shipping in the area faced more than one incident. The Hormuz tankers story therefore has two layers, claims from the IRGC and confirmed reports from other sources.

Videos verified by Reuters showed a Navig8 tanker on fire near the coast of Oman on Sunday. A video shared on Monday, also verified by Reuters, showed oil reaching the shores of Oman. These were separate incidents from the Tuesday claims about the Hormuz tankers.

The attacks are part of a wider pattern. The International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents, most of them attacks, in the region since the conflict began in late February 2026. At least 25 seafarers have been killed. In October, 37 ships were attacked, the highest monthly total since the war began, according to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The Washington Institute data covers the period since the war began in late February 2026. The Hormuz tankers incidents fit a pattern that has grown through the year.

Oil prices moved as the Hormuz tankers reports spread. Brent crude briefly fell below 90 dollars a barrel on 11 November, touching 89.16 dollars, before settling at 91.49 dollars, down 1.17 percent. US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could end fairly soon. Trump also said he plans to hold off new military strikes at the request of neighbouring countries, including Qatar. He said the naval blockade of Iranian ports stays in place.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. It normally carries about one fifth of global oil supplies. The Hormuz tankers that pass through the strait carry a large share of the world's oil. A Pakistan-bound LNG tanker, the Al Mayeda, was attacked near the strait on 30 October, which showed that the threat reaches Pakistan's energy supplies too.

Trump said the naval blockade of Iranian ports stays in place, even as he holds off new military strikes. Until then, the claims and the confirmed reports should be kept apart. The claims come from the IRGC. The confirmed reports come from ADNOC, UKMTO and Reuters. The Hormuz tankers story will be updated when independent confirmation arrives.

What does the IRGC claim happened to the Hormuz tankers?

The IRGC claims two tankers caught fire after explosions, one after hitting a mine, and a third was also reported hit. None of this is independently verified.

What is independently confirmed?

ADNOC confirmed one of its vessels was damaged in UAE waters on Tuesday, in a separate incident from the Hormuz tankers claims. UKMTO said a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile off Oman. Reuters verified videos of a Navig8 tanker on fire on Sunday.

Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter?

The strait normally carries about one fifth of global oil supplies, and Hormuz tankers are central to that trade. It is one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.

How many ships have been attacked?

The International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents since late February 2026, with at least 25 seafarers killed. In October alone, 37 ships were attacked.

What did Donald Trump say about the war?

Trump said the war with Iran could end fairly soon. He said he plans to hold off new military strikes at the request of neighbouring countries, including Qatar, while the naval blockade stays in place.