Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say two supertankers were disabled by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz

Two oil tankers were disabled by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday^1,2. Iranian state media later said the two tankers “exploded after hitting naval mines” and showed what it said was video footage of the incidents¹.

In a statement carried by the ISNA news agency, the Guards’ navy said the tankers were involved in an incident late on Wednesday while transiting the strait³. The Guards described the ships as “violating” tankers².

According to the Guards, the vessels were disabled after they ignored warnings against using an “unauthorized route”^4,5. Iran said the two were supertankers carrying 4 million barrels between them⁶. The Guards also claimed the vessels caught fire after ignoring navigation warnings⁶. Iran’s account presents the incident as enforcement of its own rules: the ships were disabled, the Guards said, because they ignored those warnings^4,6.

Why it matters to investors

The account so far comes from the Guards and from Iranian state media, and the available reports attribute the details to those sources^1,3,4. The routing rules the Guards cite are Iran’s own warnings^4,5.

Shipping attacks in the strait are continuing⁶. The incident adds to a series of Iranian warnings aimed beyond the Gulf: Iran has threatened strikes on Europe if the war resumes, and has warned of domestic gas shortages this winter because of the war⁷.

For energy markets, the claim that the tankers struck naval mines is the detail to weigh most carefully, and it rests on Iranian state media¹. Together the two ships carried 4 million barrels, according to Iran, which shows the volume of crude exposed when tankers in the strait are hit⁶.

What to watch

Independent confirmation of the vessels’ identities, damage and cargo is the first thing to look for, since the details published so far rest on Iranian statements^1,6. The Guards’ claim that the ships took an unauthorized route will also be tested against the accounts of owners and insurers once they are given^2,4.

Further incidents would show whether Iran is enforcing its own routing rules across the strait^5,6. Whether the Guards’ warnings about an “unauthorized route” lead other ships to change course is a further question for traffic through the waterway⁴. Iran’s threats against Europe and its warnings about domestic gas shortages are further signals to track⁷.