IRGC says second supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude on fire after striking mine in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Saturday that a second supertanker had struck a naval mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz — the second such claim by Tehran in a single day.

In a statement reported by Anadolu and Al Jazeera, the IRGC Navy said the tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and had switched off its positioning and radar systems while attempting to use an “unauthorized” route. The strike caused a major explosion in the vessel’s engine room, leaving the tanker immobilized, the statement said.

The IRGC did not identify the vessel and gave no information about its crew, possible casualties, or environmental damage.

These claims have not been independently verified. No independent source has confirmed that a second tanker struck a mine, that it was sailing without positioning systems, or that it was using an unauthorised route.

The latest claim follows the IRGC’s earlier statement on Saturday that a first supertanker had struck a mine on an “unauthorized” route — covered in Flip News’ earlier report today.

Iran has imposed restrictions on shipping through parts of the strategic waterway amid its conflict with the United States, insisting vessels use routes authorized by Tehran. The US and its regional allies have rejected the restrictions, maintaining vessels’ right to freedom of navigation. The claims come a day after UKMTO reported two separate tanker incidents off the Saudi coast near Jubail on Friday.