Two crude oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian military officials reported over the weekend, marking the latest escalation in a critical maritime corridor where shipping has ground to a near-standstill.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that both vessels, each transporting approximately two million barrels of crude oil, were struck by mines on Saturday, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Iranian authorities said the first ship suffered an explosion that sparked a “fierce fire,” while the second vessel was engulfed in a massive blaze and left disabled. The identities of the tankers and the origin of their cargo remained undisclosed.
IRNA reported that both ships had disabled their radar and location tracking equipment and were attempting to navigate an unapproved path. The Revolutionary Guard asserted that one vessel attempted to transit the strait with backing from the U.S. military, while the other was immobilized after the blast. The incident follows a warning issued earlier in the week by Iranian naval commander Rear Adm. Ali Azmaei, who said that any ship shutting off its navigation systems would be treated as a hostile target.
Crisis in Global Energy Shipping
The strategic waterway has seen a sharp surge in attacks over the past two weeks. Iran asserted direct control over the Strait of Hormuz when the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran began in late February, mandating that commercial vessels receive Iranian clearance before passing through. The United States has countered with a naval blockade on Iranian petroleum shipments.
Before the outbreak of hostilities, about one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption moved through the narrow waterway. Maritime traffic data compiled by Kpler shows shipments dropped precipitously from roughly 20.8 million barrels on Oct. 8 to just 2.9 million on Oct. 11. Security monitoring firm Vanguard, the International Maritime Organization, and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that six ships were hit in or near the strait on Oct. 11 alone, the highest single-day total since fighting started.
The disruptions have driven up global energy prices and stoked inflationary pressures worldwide. Iran’s military previously claimed that two other tankers burned on Thursday and Friday within what it designated a prohibited zone in the Gulf of Oman, while maritime observers reported two more vessels were struck off the Saudi coast on Friday.
Egypt Vows Support for Saudi Security
Against the backdrop of the widening naval confrontation and strikes targeting Gulf infrastructure, Egypt’s National Defense Council convened on Sunday to review regional developments, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi led the high-level session at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, bringing together top civilian and defense officials, including the prime minister, the armed forces chief of staff, intelligence directors, and senior cabinet ministers. In a statement released by the Egyptian presidency, the council announced its total solidarity with Saudi Arabia, pledging to provide all necessary and feasible assistance to protect Saudi sovereignty, borders, and holy places.
The council emphasized that Saudi national security remains directly tied to the security of Egypt and the broader Arab world, pointing to what it described as unacceptable and intensifying assaults against the kingdom. Egyptian officials added that Cairo would simultaneously sustain diplomatic initiatives with international and regional partners to pursue de-escalation and seek peaceful solutions to the crisis.
Washington Rules Out Nuclear Option
In Washington, President Donald Trump addressed the standoff during an interview Thursday with the Newsmax news site, stating he has excluded the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict with Iran. “I wouldn’t use nuclear,” Trump said, while also rejecting the deployment of American ground forces. “No, I don’t see that, I don’t see it.”
Trump stated he anticipates a negotiated resolution to end the war will take shape following the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for Nov. 3. However, with vital shipping channels severely contested and regional alliances hardening, it remains uncertain when commercial traffic will safely resume or whether diplomatic efforts can halt further military escalation across the Persian Gulf.
