Two oil tankers reportedly struck naval mines and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, November 8, according to Iranian authorities, as renewed explosions along Iran’s southern coastline and escalating attacks across the Gulf raised concerns about further regional instability.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the vessels were traveling through unauthorized shipping routes when they struck mines, causing extensive fires. The statement, carried by Iran’s official IRNA news agency and reported by Reuters and AFP, did not identify the vessels, their nationalities or the number of crew members aboard.
The Iranian military also alleged that both tankers had disabled their navigation and positioning systems before attempting to cross the strategic waterway. However, the circumstances of the incidents and the extent of the damage could not be independently verified.
Explosions reported near Qeshm as shipping risks increase
The reported incidents followed a series of explosions heard Saturday night in southern Iran, including on Qeshm Island, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas.
Iranian state television initially suggested that the explosions might have been connected to military activity, while the semiofficial Tasnim news agency cited a source denying that the blasts on Qeshm resulted from missile strikes.
The explosions occurred days after limited American military strikes against targets on Qeshm Island, further increasing tensions around the waterway.
The latest tanker incidents followed similar reports on November 5, when Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said two tankers and a tugboat had caught fire after attempting to navigate restricted routes. Additional Iranian military statements reported damage to three other tankers.
Al Jazeera reported that at least five tankers had been affected in those incidents, although independent confirmation remained limited.
Washington has disputed Tehran’s assertions about the continued presence of mines, with US Central Command maintaining that American forces have cleared mines from the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption, making continued disruptions a significant concern for international energy markets.
Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles as US-Iran standoff continues
The maritime incidents coincided with renewed attacks elsewhere in the region.
In Saudi Arabia, loud explosions were heard in Riyadh on Sunday after civil defense authorities issued an emergency warning. The Saudi-led coalition subsequently announced that it had intercepted two cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia.
Falling debris damaged an administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco in the capital. Saudi authorities reported no casualties.
The incidents followed intensified fighting between Saudi forces and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, including Saudi airstrikes near Sanaa.
Meanwhile, the United States confirmed that its military had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to violate the American naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran continues to insist that it controls navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington maintains that commercial shipping should not be subject to Tehran’s restrictions.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain unresolved, despite recent indirect negotiations involving Qatar. The latest reported maritime attacks highlight the continuing risks to commercial shipping as military tensions persist throughout the Gulf.
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