Iran claims supertanker carrying over 2 million barrels of crude caught fire in Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil exploded and caught fire after hitting a naval mine while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The incident, reported by Iran’s state-owned Press TV on Saturday, comes amid escalating tensions over control of the strategic waterway and growing risks to commercial shipping.

According to the IRGC, the vessel was attempting to pass through the strait using a route that Tehran had not authorised. Iranian authorities alleged that the tanker had deliberately switched off its positioning and radar systems in an attempt to deceive maritime officials.

The IRGC did not identify the tanker in the statement cited by Press TV. The claim that the vessel struck a naval mine and subsequently caught fire has not been independently verified.

Iran warns vessels against crossing the strait

The IRGC reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed under what it described as Iran’s sovereign decisions and maritime regulations. It warned vessels against attempting to navigate the waterway in defiance of its restrictions.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the consequence of defying Iranian regulations in the Strait of Hormuz is burning in the fire of trust in the terrorist US army,” the IRGC said in its statement.

The warning comes as threats to commercial vessels operating in and around the strait have intensified. Before the war, the narrow waterway carried around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade, making any disruption a significant concern for energy markets and international shipping.

Tehran has sought to strengthen its control over the passage since US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Restrictions on maritime traffic have become part of its efforts to exert pressure on Washington.

Attacks heighten risks to commercial shipping

The confrontation has coincided with a rise in attacks and threats involving vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has intensified its strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and tighter sanctions imposed last month.

Iran is increasingly using new tactics against vessels transiting the strait as it seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

Although tankers have been among the principal targets, cargo and container vessels have also come under attack, been immobilised or sunk.

Multiple shipping chokepoints face growing risks

The crisis in Hormuz is unfolding alongside deteriorating security in other important maritime corridors. Cargo vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea region, while an offensive by Iran-backed Houthi militants along a key Red Sea shipping route has added to threats facing international trade.

Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals through intermediaries since a temporary ceasefire agreed in June collapsed. However, efforts to restore normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have stalled, with Tehran setting conditions and Washington insisting that discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme begin from the outset.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global energy supplies. Continued attacks, restrictions on shipping and uncertainty over safe passage have heightened concerns about disruptions to oil and gas flows and the wider impact on international trade.

The circumstances surrounding the latest tanker incident, including the vessel’s identity, the extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties, remain unclear in the available reports.