Three oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced, accusing the vessels of ignoring warnings and using an unauthorised shipping route.

According to a statement issued by the Revolutionary Guards, explosions and fires broke out aboard three vessels after they struck mines while attempting to navigate an unauthorised passage in the southern part of the strategic waterway.

The IRGC described the tankers as “non-compliant vessels”, claiming they had switched off their radar and navigation systems and disregarded warnings about the dangers of the route.

The Revolutionary Guards also announced that they had seized a US reconnaissance drone in the area.

The vessels’ cargoes and flags have not yet been identified.

Three tankers have caught fire while passing through the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, Iranian state media has reported. https://t.co/yDyPRwFTwM

— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) October 29, 2026

UK maritime authority reports vessel on fire off Oman

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel had caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman.

It remains unclear whether the vessel was one of the three tankers mentioned in the IRGC statement.

“The master of another vessel reported observing a ship on fire. The fate of the crew is unknown. At present, there are no assessments of the extent of the damage or the environmental impact,” UKMTO said.

No further information has been released about the condition of the crews or the possible consequences of the incidents.

Over the past 24 hours, 3 violating tankers passing through the unauthorized southern route of the Strait of Hormuz suffered explosions and fires after hitting mines and were abandoned on the southern shores of the Strait. https://t.co/tOhU3xG30d

— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) October 29, 2026

Iran warns ships against using unauthorised routes

Iran claims control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global hydrocarbon exports passed before the outbreak of the war.

Tehran regularly targets vessels attempting to cross the strait without Iranian authorisation, particularly those navigating close to the Omani coastline.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, recently announced that it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the summer, bypassing the Iranian blockade.

In a post on X, CENTCOM maintained that “the main routes have been cleared of Iranian mines”.

The Revolutionary Guards challenged that assertion, warning shipping companies and crews against relying on US military statements.

“The unauthorised route is mined. Shipowners and crews are responsible for their passage through these routes and should not pay attention to CENTCOM’s nonsense on social media,” the IRGC said in its latest statement.

The conflicting claims highlight continuing tensions over maritime access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping corridor whose security remains a major concern for global energy supplies.