Iran's IRGC says three tankers hit mines in Hormuz; ship seen burning off Oman
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after hitting sea mines on the 'unauthorised' southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, as a British maritime agency reported a vessel ablaze north of Khasab, Oman.
At a glance
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Thursday, October 29, 2026, that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking naval mines over the previous 24 hours.
- The IRGC said the ships were using an 'unauthorised' southern route, had switched off radar and navigation systems, and ignored warnings; it blamed their owners and crews.
- The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre separately reported a vessel on fire about 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, around 0300 GMT; crew status unknown.
- No ship names, flags or casualty figures have been released, and it is not confirmed whether the UKMTO fire is one of the three ships the IRGC described.
- The IRGC also claimed to have brought down a US drone over the strait; Washington has not confirmed it.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday, October 29, 2026, that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest in a wave of attacks on shipping in the world's most important oil chokepoint. Hours earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre reported a vessel burning about 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, on Oman's Musandam peninsula. It is not yet clear whether that fire involved one of the three ships Iran described, and no casualties have been confirmed.
What each side says
The IRGC Navy said the three tankers struck mines within the previous 24 hours while trying to leave the Gulf through what it called the "unauthorised southern route". It said the ships had switched off their radar and navigation systems, ignored warnings from Iranian forces, and were left stranded along the southern shores of the strait. The Guards said the owners and crews were responsible for what happened and warned that "provocative" US actions ignoring Iran's rules for the strait would be met decisively.
UKMTO said a ship's master reported another vessel on fire north of Khasab at around 0300 GMT (8 a.m. Pakistan time). It gave no cause, and said the crew's condition and any environmental damage were not yet known.
| Key facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, October 29, 2026 |
| IRGC claim | 3 oil tankers hit mines and caught fire in 24 hours |
| Location (IRGC) | Southern route of the Strait of Hormuz |
| UKMTO report | Vessel on fire ~9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, ~0300 GMT |
| Ship names / flags | Not disclosed |
| Casualties | Unknown |
| Drone claim | IRGC says it brought down a US drone over the strait (unconfirmed) |
The IRGC also said its forces had brought down a US reconnaissance drone over the strait. The US military has not commented, and the claim could not be independently verified.
Background: a contested waterway
About a fifth of the world's oil normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Since the war involving Iran resumed this year, Tehran has said only routes it authorises may be used, while the United States — which maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports — has encouraged tankers to use a southern lane along the Omani side. The US says it has cleared mines from key routes; Iran has challenged that and demanded evidence.
The International Maritime Organization has counted dozens of confirmed attacks on vessels between late September and late October, most of them in the strait, and analysts say attacks are now at their highest level since the war began. Earlier this month, Iran said seven tankers had been hit in a single night. Oil exports through the waterway fell again last week.
Diplomacy and reactions
The incident comes during a delicate diplomatic moment. Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft proposal to end the war, and a response is expected by the weekend, although Iranian officials have publicly criticised Qatar's ideas. Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday that Tehran "continues to give diplomacy a chance". US officials have told Gulf allies to prepare for possible renewed strikes after the November 3 US midterm elections if talks fail, though President Donald Trump has not made a final decision.
On the same day, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Pentagon's top war planner, Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who was accused of leaking information about the Iran war.
Why it matters
Every attack in Hormuz pushes up insurance costs for ships and keeps oil prices high, which feeds into petrol, diesel and electricity bills worldwide. Pakistan, India and other South Asian importers are especially exposed: most of their crude and liquefied natural gas comes from Gulf producers through the strait, and higher shipping costs quickly show up in fuel prices at home. Thousands of South Asian seafarers also crew tankers in the region.
What happens next
- Shipping companies and UKMTO are expected to identify the burning vessel and the condition of its crew.
- Iran's response to the Qatari draft deal is expected by Saturday, October 31.
- The US midterm elections on November 3 are widely seen as a turning point for Washington's next move on Iran.
- Shipping firms advise crews in the area to report incidents to UKMTO and follow naval guidance on routes.
Questions people are asking
What happened in the Strait of Hormuz on October 29, 2026?
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said three oil tankers hit naval mines and caught fire on the strait's southern route, and the UK's maritime trade agency reported a ship burning about 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman. Ship names and casualties have not been disclosed.
Is the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping?
Only partly. Iran says only routes it authorises may be used and has warned ships off the southern lane that the US encourages, and attacks on vessels in the strait are at their highest level since the war began, so traffic and oil exports remain sharply reduced.
Who laid the mines in the Strait of Hormuz?
This has not been independently established. The IRGC described the ships as hitting mines on a route it calls unauthorised, while the US has said it cleared key shipping lanes — a claim Iran disputes.
