Iran claims oil tanker ‘on fire’ after attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz undetected

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Iran claims oil tanker ‘on fire’ after attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz undetected Maira Butt Thursday 15 October 2026 16:48 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Container ship sinks after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz, Iran claims Iranian state media reported that an oil tanker caught fire in the eastern section of the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian military forces claimed the vessel disabled its tracking systems to navigate a restricted zone. The incident follows the sinking of the Singapore-flagged container vessel GFS Pride , which caught fire after hitting a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, though all 21 crew members were safely evacuated without injury. The GFS Pride represents the second commercial vessel to sink since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict on 28 February, which began following coordinated military airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Tensions and attacks along the critical shipping route have caused commercial traffic to grind to a halt, with another bulk carrier, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao, also reported to be sinking following an earlier strike. Global oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel amidst ongoing disruptions to the vital waterway, while Donald Trump attempts to negotiate a new deal with Russia to secure diesel imports. In full Oil tanker ‘on fire’ in Strait of Hormuz just hours after container ship sinks, claim Iran’s army