Iran seized full control of the Strait of Hormuz after the February 2026 conflict with the United States and Israel, choking a corridor that carries roughly 20 percent of the world's oil traffic.
The Guards reported that the tanker, traveling on an unauthorized southern route and having disabled its navigation systems, struck a naval mine south of the strait, triggering an explosion in the engine room and setting the vessel ablaze.
Admiral Ali Ozmaei, the Guards' naval commander, warned earlier that any ship that deactivates its positioning and navigation systems would be deemed hostile. The incident follows a Monday where two other tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the same waters.
The U.S. has imposed a naval counter‑blockade on Iranian oil exports in response to Tehran's blockade of the waterway, and diplomatic channels remain tense as both sides prepare for further escalation.
The Guards will continue to monitor the strait, while Washington is expected to review its blockade strategy in the coming days.