Four oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking sea mines, according to statements by the Iranian armed forces on Thursday (10/29). These incidents come amid the standoff between Tehran and Washington over the security of the strategic sea lane, which the U.S. claims to have cleared of mines along the main shipping lanes.
Meanwhile, the British maritime security agency UKMTO has recorded new reports of ships being struck or engulfed in flames near the coast of Oman, though it remains unclear whether these are the same incidents.
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Iran’s claims regarding the four tankers have not been independently confirmed, and the names of the ships, their flags, their owners, or the origin of their cargoes.
The Revolutionary Guards on the three tankers
Initially, the Revolutionary Guards announced that three oil tankers, which they described as violators of Iranian navigation restrictions, had exploded and caught fire while passing through an unauthorized route in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Iranian account, the crews had disabled their radar and navigation systems and ignored the warnings issued to them.
The Revolutionary Guards also reported that they had seized a U.S. unmanned reconnaissance aircraft in the area. The claim was disputed by the U.S. military.
Later on Thursday, the Iranian military announced that a fourth tanker had struck a sea mine and burst into flames.
In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, it claimed that the ship was sailing illegally in a restricted and dangerous area, resulting in damage and a fire after it struck the mines.
No further information was provided regarding the condition of the crew or the extent of the damage.
Warnings from the UK’s UKMTO and the sunken
vessel Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which operates under the UK Ministry of Defense, was notified of an incident involving a ship on fire in the Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Oman.
The agency did not provide any information regarding the condition of the crew.
UKMTO WARNING 186-26
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) October 29, 2026
Click here to view the full producthttps://t.co/GurjVHr4wQ#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/ZLnEJCfdMp
Earlier, it had reported that a tanker had been struck by a missile of an unknown type in the same area, clarifying that no injuries had been reported.
The French News Agency notes that it was not possible to verify whether these two ships were among the four tankers mentioned by the Iranian armed forces.
In a separate update, the UKMTO also reported the sinking of another vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman.
According to local authorities, it was a traditional wooden vessel, known in the Gulf region as a “dhow,” which was involved in a security incident.
A major fire broke out on the vessel, which then listed and eventually sank. The crew members were evacuated in time and are safe, according to the British agency.
UKMTO WARNING 185-26 UPDATE 001
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) October 29, 2026
Click here to view the full warning
The Standoff with Washington Over Sea Mines
These latest developments come as Iran and the United States present conflicting accounts of the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Sunday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the most important maritime routes in the strait have been cleared of Iranian mines, thanks to operations by U.S. forces.
CENTCOM also reported that since the summer, it has facilitated the transport of 1.5 billion barrels of oil from Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz, by circumventing the restrictions Iran has imposed on shipping.
Tehran rejected the U.S. claims, insisting that there are still mined routes.
“The prohibited route is mined; shipowners and crews are responsible for navigating through it and should pay no heed to CENTCOM’s ravings,” the Revolutionary Guards stated.
Their spokesperson, Hossein Mohamedi, called on Washington via X to present evidence of the area’s demining.
“Back up your claims regarding the demining of the Strait of Hormuz with independent evidence, not just simple announcements!” he said.
The Blockade of the Strait and Its Importance for Global Oil
The Strait of Hormuz, located between the coasts of Iran and Oman, are one of the most important maritime routes for the transport of oil and natural gas worldwide.
At their narrowest point, they are approximately 30 kilometers wide, and prior to the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, on February 28, 2026, about one-fifth of the hydrocarbons bound for international markets passed through them.
After the start of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran, Tehran imposed strict restrictions on the passage of ships, effectively asserting control over the strategic sea lane.
Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted or threatened commercial ships attempting to cross the strait without their authorization, particularly along routes near the coast of Oman.
In response to the Iranian blockade, the United States maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf, while U.S. warships escort tankers passing through the region.
Despite military operations and efforts to ensure safe navigation, negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain at an impasse.
The latest incidents involving oil tankers highlight the uncertainty that continues to surround the safe passage of commercial vessels, especially as long as there is no independent confirmation that mines have been completely cleared from critical shipping lanes.
