The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said two oil tankers exploded and caught fire while attempting to pass through a mined corridor south of the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States over navigation in the strategic waterway.
Guard says tankers hit mined route
In a statement issued on Friday evening, the Revolutionary Guard said the two tankers exploded and were set ablaze as they tried to move through a mine-laden passage south of the Strait of Hormuz.
The force said the strait had become “unsafe and completely closed” because of US measures.
It also said that “no chemical fertilisers, or even a single drop of oil or natural gas, can be exported through the strait as long as the American attacks continue”.
The statement urged sailors not to enter mined waterways in order to protect their safety.
Escalation in the Gulf region
For days, the United States has been carrying out successive waves of strikes on sites inside Iran, while Tehran has launched attacks on what it says are US ships, facilities and military bases in several countries across the region.
On 18 June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding that included a halt to military operations and the start of negotiations on a broader agreement.
But US President Donald Trump announced on 8 July that the temporary deal had ended after three ships were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to resume its strikes inside Iran as Iranian responses intensified across the region.
Dispute over shipping through the strait
Washington is demanding guarantees of freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran is insisting on a mechanism to regulate the passage of ships through the strategic corridor, deepening concerns about disruptions to oil and gas exports from the region.
Ankara/ Anadolu
Ahmet Dursun, Ahmet Kartal
18 July 2026 • Updated: 18 July 2026