IRGC Navy Claims Tankers Struck Mines in Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stated that two commercial oil tankers exploded and were burning intensely after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report published on November 8, 2026, by Iran's state-run Mehr News Agency. The Iranian military force asserted that the two vessels were attempting to navigate an unauthorized route through the strategic waterway when the detonations occurred.
According to the IRGC Navy, the two reported explosions took place in separate maritime sectors. Iranian authorities claimed that one tanker was located east of the Strait of Hormuz, while the second tanker was operating inside the strait itself. Iranian state media described both vessels as violating ships and claimed that both were burning intensely following the mine strikes.
Allegations of Disabled Navigation Systems
In a formal statement released by its public relations office, the IRGC Navy alleged that the two tankers had committed multiple maritime infractions prior to striking the mines. Specifically, the Iranian military claimed that both vessels had deliberately switched off their onboard navigation and positioning systems before attempting to cross the unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Threats Against Commercial Shipping and U.S. Forces
Alongside its announcement regarding the burning tankers, the IRGC Navy issued an explicit warning directed at maritime traffic navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The military force asserted that, as it had previously announced, any ship or vessel that cooperates with the United States military will face severe hazards if it defies Iranian regulations in the waterway.
The IRGC Navy warned that any vessel that defies Iranian regulations in the Strait of Hormuz and enters the unauthorized zone will certainly strike a mine. In its public statement, the IRGC Navy described the American armed forces as an aggressor and plundering military, while explicitly urging commercial vessels not to heed what it termed the fantasies of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander.