Iran Says Tankers Hit Mines in Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy says three oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim the US military has rejected, while a UK maritime agency separately reported vessels on fire off Oman’s coast. The cause of those fires has not been established.
The Guards said the tankers exploded and caught fire over 24 hours after striking sea mines on what Iran calls an unauthorised southern route, and that the ships had switched off their radar and tracking systems. The navy also said another vessel struck mines in the eastern part of the waterway. Iran has not named any of the ships, and the claim has not been independently verified. US Central Command rejected claims that commercial vessels had hit mines, saying it had cleared the main recognised shipping lanes and that they remain clear.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) reported a ship on fire about nine nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, early on Thursday, though officials could not immediately say whether it was among the three the Guards cited. Al Jazeera reports that UKMTO later received a report of an outbound vessel on fire about 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab. The cause, the crew’s condition and any damage or environmental impact are unknown, and UKMTO urged ships to transit with caution.
The incidents add to pressure in a waterway central to the war between the United States and Israel and Iran, which began in February. The International Maritime Organization counted 34 confirmed attacks on vessels between 28 September and 27 October, most in or near the strait. At the UN Security Council, Iran’s ambassador, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said the US naval blockade of Iran violates the UN Charter and amounts to “collective punishment,” threatening civilians’ access to food, medicine and fuel. The US says its blockade is effective and that no Iranian ship has crossed the strait.
The council also heard a clash over Iran’s nuclear programme. US ambassador Mike Waltz accused Tehran of failing to give the International Atomic Energy Agency the information and access it requested, telling Iran’s delegation: “Your lies are no good here.” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said attacks in June 2025 forced the agency to suspend inspections and withdraw its staff, and that Iran had agreed to let inspectors into its Isfahan enrichment facility before the attacks began. He said the agency had identified no activity to repair or rebuild damaged facilities since June 2025, though physical inspections remain necessary.
In the United States, Vice President JD Vance told a Fox News town hall in Fort Worth, Texas, that President Donald Trump will not let the conflict become a “forever war.” The Kremlin told Al Jazeera that Russia is ready to mediate if asked, and the Wall Street Journal reported that the head of US Central Command has briefed Trump on military options.
Separately, Yemen’s Houthis claim six operations against Saudi airports and oil facilities, including the Ras Tanura and Rabigh refineries and the Riyadh and Dammam airports. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed strikes on those sites.
