Iran reports 3 tankers hit by mines in Strait of Hormuz
The Revolutionary Guard says vessels used unauthorized routes, while Saudi Arabia intercepts a drone near Mecca.
By Petra Murphy ·
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced on Friday that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The group stated that all three vessels were using unauthorized routes when they struck naval mines. One of the affected ships was a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of oil.
The Guard said the supertanker was abandoned at the entrance to the strait and remained on fire. The report did not identify the vessel or provide details about its crew. Iranian state media confirmed that the other two tankers also caught fire after striking mines earlier in the day. The Guard accused these vessels of switching off navigation systems and ignoring radio warnings while attempting to leave with U.S. military support.
Tehran has asserted control over the waterway since the war began on Feb. 28. The Guard’s navy warned last month that unauthorized vessels would face destruction. Iran has claimed responsibility for recent ship attacks, alleging that targets used unapproved paths or hit mines laid early in the conflict. The U.S. military disputes the mine claims, stating that U.S. forces have cleared all internationally recognized primary transit routes of sea mines.
A separate incident was reported by the British military. A tanker caught fire after a small boat attached two explosive devices to its hull. The blasts triggered a fire in the engine room, but the crew was safe and the vessel continued to its next port. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations noted the ship was sailing about 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. It is unclear if this incident is related to the fires claimed by Iran.
Oman’s Maritime Security Center also reported evacuating 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged tanker. The vessel was attacked 1.6 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate and caught fire. Officials did not immediately clarify if this third event was distinct from the incidents described by Iranian and British authorities.
In a related development, the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a coalition spokesperson, said the drone was destroyed in the region surrounding Mecca. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied targeting Mecca, stating in a statement that operations were aimed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases. The Houthis have repeatedly denied targeting holy cities in the past.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday to hold talks with Iranian officials. IRNA, the state news agency, said the delegation was headed by the country’s foreign minister and a senior adviser to the prime minister. These talks follow a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Tehran acknowledged receiving the letter on Thursday but has not responded. President Donald Trump suggested the letter concerned humanitarian aid rather than peace negotiations.
The United Nations reported that the number of displaced people in Yemen has surpassed 281,000. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the figures cover the period between Aug. 1 and Oct. 25. Most civilians fled fighting in Taiz and along the West Coast. The agency documented 263 civilian casualties, including 67 people killed, as of Oct. 27. Children accounted for 97 of those casualties.
