IRGC says supertanker exploded after striking mine in Strait of Hormuz

A crude oil supertanker suffered a massive explosion and burst into flames after striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the IRGC Navy through its official channel, Sepah News, the vessel had deactivated its tracking and positioning equipment before attempting to exit the narrow waterway via a prohibited passage. The Guard stated that the resulting fire was large enough to be clearly seen by residents along the coastline.

Iranian military authorities did not disclose the vessel's name, flag state, owner, or the fate of the crew on board. Independent maritime agencies have not yet confirmed the extent of the damage or whether any rescue operation took place.

What happened in the waterway

The Guard described the corridor chosen by the tanker as a designated high-risk zone, declaring that any ship ignoring maritime rules in the strait would meet a similar fate. On Sunday, the IRGC widened its warning, stating that any commercial vessel turning off automatic positioning systems in the Strait of Hormuz will be classified as a hostile target and face direct military action.

The incident follows another confrontation in the corridor just twenty-four hours earlier. On Friday, the IRGC Navy claimed its forces struck the NV Sunshine, a large liquefied petroleum gas carrier, as it sailed through what Tehran termed an illegal route south of the waterway. That strike sparked a fire in the vessel's propulsion system and engine room, with Iranian commanders blaming the United States for stoking maritime instability in the Persian Gulf.

Tehran had already tightened rules through the strait on 28 February, barring passage to vessels affiliated with the United States and Israel following military strikes on Iranian targets. The IRGC claimed the latest incident was the third occasion since Saturday in which a tanker caught fire after encountering mines along unapproved routes.

Regional fallout and diplomatic moves

The Strait of Hormuz remains the single most critical transit corridor for global petroleum supplies, through which a major share of the crude destined for Asian economies passes each day. Maritime security along the route is closely monitored by major importing nations, including India, which depends on stability across Gulf sea lanes to maintain uninterrupted domestic energy supplies and keep international freight movements safe.

Even as tensions in the waterway flared, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signalled that Tehran remains open to diplomatic engagement. Speaking during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, Pezeshkian said Iran would not leave the negotiating table.

"We are negotiating. However, whenever we engage in dialogue with the United States, they attack again," Pezeshkian said, noting that both sides had exchanged proposals through mediators and were working to finalise terms despite military friction on the water.