Iran Reports Oil Tanker Struck Mine and Caught Fire in Strait of Hormuz

An oil tanker struck a naval mine and caught fire in an unsafe and prohibited area in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Iran's army announced the incident in a statement carried by state television. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also stated that it received a report about an incident involving a tanker in the strait. Since the West Asia war began in late February, Tehran has heavily restricted traffic through this key waterway, insisting that vessels use routes authorized by the Islamic republic. In response, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and helped tankers travel through the passage, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil. The American military recently claimed that all mines had been cleared from the strait. According to state TV, the naval forces of Iran's army stated that the violating oil tanker caught fire early Wednesday morning after hitting the mine in a restricted area. Iran has reported multiple ship fires and mine strikes in the strait in recent weeks. On Tuesday, November 10, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that three other oil tankers had caught fire in the waterway. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the region, has been escorting ships through the passage and reported last month that it helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global trade route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Any disruption to traffic in this narrow passage can directly affect global oil supplies and energy prices. Military escorts and naval restrictions in the area have increased tensions between Iran and the United States since the conflict began.