Two supertankers using unauthorised Hormuz route hit naval mines, IRGC says

Two supertankers struck naval mines while attempting to use an unauthorised route south of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy said. The ensuing explosions and intense fires left the engine rooms of both vessels disabled, leaving them stranded in the waterway, IRGC said. Fars news agency, meanwhile, cited an IRGC source as saying that Hormuz traffic by violating vessels has come to a halt, following the strikes on three oil tankers on Thursday, destruction of navigation-aid systems on the violating vessels and the destruction of another violating vessel on Thursday night. The source told Fars agency that if oil smuggling resumes, IRGC's response will be "far more forceful". IRGC Navy: Two supertankers in violation attempted to transit the off-limits southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz. Both vessels struck a naval mine, and following explosions and intense fires, their engine rooms were disabled, leaving them stranded in place. https://t.co/pI0Wd7NeY2 — IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) October 23, 2026