Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on July 18 that two oil tankers exploded and stopped after entering a minefield in the southern Strait of Hormuz. According to the IRGC, the vessels were “misled by United States intelligence” into attempting passage through the contested waterway.
The US Central Command responded the same day, flatly rejecting the claims as false and noting the absence of any independent confirmation. No specific tankers, shipping companies, or flag states have been identified in connection with the alleged incident.
The Strait of Hormuz is the single most important bottleneck for global energy. A significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through this narrow channel between Iran and Oman.
A crisis that’s been building for weeks
Iran has declared the waterway “extremely unsafe” and has reportedly restricted passage outside designated routes during the crisis period. The IRGC has ramped up military activity in the area, including mine-laying operations and ship interceptions.
