The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that three ships attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz this morning, and one of them caught fire after striking a mine. The report is unverified, and no details on the vessels' identity, nationality, or casualties have been released.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) updated its account of events in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday afternoon, claiming that three ships attempted to cross the strait and one of them caught fire after striking a mine. The new claim, reported by Iranian Telegram channels, escalates the IRGC's earlier statements from around 02:58 Jerusalem, when it first announced a strike on an oil tanker, then said two tankers turned back and a third caught fire, and later declared the strait "completely closed" and mandated coordination for all tankers. This latest version introduces a mine as the cause and specifies three ships rather than two.
The sequence of IRGC statements, all issued in the early hours of Thursday, was as follows: at 02:58 Jerusalem, the IRGC first reported striking an oil tanker; shortly thereafter, it claimed two tankers turned back and one caught fire; then it required all tankers to coordinate with Tehran; and finally it stated that an oil tanker caught fire and the strait is completely closed. The current update now adds the detail of a mine and a third ship. All claims remain unverified and based solely on IRGC statements, with no independent confirmation of the vessels' identities, nationalities, or casualties.
The IRGC's actions in the Strait of Hormuz have been a recurring theme in recent weeks. As The Zioneer has reported, the IRGC attacked a vessel on July 7, launched a missile at a vessel on June 12–13, fired warning shots at several vessels on June 28, diverted six ships from the Omani route on July 5, and claimed a fatal tanker attack on July 14. These incidents have occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions over maritime security in the strategic waterway, with the IRGC asserting control over passage.
What remains open: The latest claim is based on a single Iranian source, and no other news outlets or governments have confirmed the incident. The identity and nationality of the ships, the extent of damage, and any casualties are unknown. The IRGC's narrative has shifted multiple times within hours, raising questions about the accuracy of the reports.
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