Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported fires on three tankers in Hormuz on Nov. 10, while separate vessel incidents were reported near the route, which carried 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption in 2024.
The IRGC Navy’s initial statement, carried by Tasnim, described two tankers burning in a corridor it called unauthorized. It said a supertanker hit a naval mine, while the other tanker caught fire after an unspecified incident. Iran alleged the second tanker was trying to cross the strait under protection from U.S. military warplanes. Anadolu reported that the U.S. military had not immediately confirmed the alleged escort.
In a later account carried by state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC Navy added a third tanker, saying a mine strike and fire had occurred in the strait’s eastern waters. Anadolu reported that the account did not identify the vessel or its flag and provided no casualty information.
In a Nov. 10 notice, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) recorded a projectile strike on a tanker about 19 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, at 8:38 a.m. ET (13:38 UTC). It said the crew were safe and reported no environmental impact; the vessel and attacker were not identified.
ADNOC Logistics & Services said a vessel was damaged in an attack in United Arab Emirates (UAE) territorial waters in the Arabian Gulf on Nov. 10. The Associated Press said it had no independent confirmation of Iran’s account and could not determine whether reports from Iran, Oman and the UAE involved related events.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) puts average oil flows through the strait at 20 million barrels per day in 2024, equivalent to about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. The agency says the region has few alternative routes for moving oil out, and a disruption could delay supplies, increase shipping costs and potentially raise world energy prices.
ADNOC said response efforts were continuing and it would provide updates when more information became available.
