The Revolutionary Guards announced on Thursday that three oil tankers were destroyed by mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil traffic.
The statement highlighted that the vessels, which had reportedly switched off all radar and navigation systems, struck mines on an unauthorized southern route that Iran deems mined and dangerous.
No details were released about the flags the tankers carried or the exact times of the explosions, leaving an air of uncertainty over the incident.
The incident comes amid Iran’s tightening of traffic restrictions in the waterway since the war began on February 28, a move that has already prompted the United States to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.
The IRGC also warned that the southern corridor, near the Omani coast, is mined and that vessel owners and crews should heed Iranian warnings rather than US CENTCOM guidance.
Earlier on Thursday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of a ship on fire in the strait but offered no casualty or cause details, raising doubts about whether it was one of the three vessels mentioned.
In a separate statement, the IRGC’s electronic warfare unit claimed to have captured a US MQM‑170 reconnaissance drone during an offensive operation in the western Hormuz, further inflaming tensions.
The lack of immediate casualty reports suggests the tankers may have been destroyed before crew evacuation could occur, but Iran has not released survivor accounts.
As the incident unfolds, analysts predict a sharp escalation in US naval patrols and a potential push by Iran for international diplomatic condemnation of the US blockade.