IRGC claims two tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy stated on November 1 that two oil tankers exploded after striking naval mines while traveling an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz. One was described as a supertanker that caught fire. The IRGC said the vessels had switched off navigation and identification systems, ignored warnings, and operated with U.S. military support. It named no ships, flags or casualty figures. The claims remain unverified by independent sources.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations authority issued separate reports of projectile strikes. One involved a commercial vessel in the strait; another, warning 192-26, described two unknown projectiles striking a tanker approximately 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji at 23:47 GMT on November 1, with the crew reported safe and no environmental impact noted. It is not confirmed whether the IRGC mine claim and the UKMTO projectile reports refer to the same vessels.

These incidents occur against the background of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iranian negotiators left talks with Qatari mediators aimed at ending the war; a draft proposal based on Iran’s September seven-step plan to reopen the strait was reported to be circulating. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei instructed commanders that any renewed attack by the United States or Israel must be met with an immediate response without geographic limits. Shipping through the strait has fallen sharply; AIS-visible traffic is estimated at roughly 10 percent of pre-crisis levels in recent monitoring.

Earlier in the week, reports described limpet-mine attacks by small craft on at least one tanker near Khasab, the first such method used in the Gulf region since 2019. A Qatari LNG tanker, Al Maayeda, was also reported attacked by unidentified objects with no crew injuries. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has demanded recognition of a shipping lane Iran established with Oman and the closure of other routes.

The combination of mine claims, projectile strikes and reduced traffic raises the cost and risk of every transit. Insurers and operators have already adjusted routes and premiums. No independent confirmation of the specific mine explosions has been released, and the vessels involved in the IRGC statement have not been identified publicly. UKMTO continues to issue navigational warnings for the area. Further incidents would affect the volume of crude and LNG moving out of the Gulf while negotiations over the strait remain stalled on sequencing and security guarantees.