Updated

The IRGC Navy reported that two supertankers, each carrying over two million barrels of crude oil, struck naval mines and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through unauthorized routes within a 24-hour period on October 17, 2026. Iranian state media described the vessels as 'violating' tankers crossing with the support of what it called the 'smuggler and terrorist army' of the United States. Following the incidents, Iran's Army chief Major General Amir Hatami declared the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the 'enemy respects Iranian nation's rights,' while the IRGC Navy warned that vessels violating Iranian regulations in the strait would 'burn in the fire of trusting the terrorist US military.' The repeated mine strikes underscore escalating tensions over control of the critical oil shipping chokepoint and raise concerns about regional energy supply disruptions.