Reuters, on Iran, 17 October 2026

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Iran's Guards say two tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz

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Companies Hormuz Energy LLC Follow DUBAI, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Saturday that two ​oil tankers had caught fire after hitting naval ‌mines while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported. State media said both tankers were carrying ​about 2 million barrels of crude oil. Sign up here. There was ​no independent confirmation of the reports. IRNA reported that ⁠the vessels had switched off their positioning and radar systems ​and attempted to use an unauthorised route through the strategic ​waterway.

The second vessel was left immobilised after striking a mine, it added. State media earlier reported that the other tanker had ​also struck a mine while attempting to transit the ​strait via a route not authorised by Iran. The incidents come amid ‌heightened ⁠tensions around the strait, a key oil shipping route. Disruptions to shipping in the waterway due to the US-Israeli war on Iran have boosted global energy prices ​and inflation. Maritime officials ​said on ⁠Wednesday that a container ship and a dry bulk carrier sank near the strait after ​being hit by projectiles in separate incidents.

Attacks ​around the ⁠waterway have surged over the past two weeks, with Iran saying it is stepping up strikes in response to ⁠the ​US blockade of its ports ​and tougher sanctions imposed last month. Updates with report of second tanker hitting mine Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din. Additional reporting ​by Dubai newsroom. Editing by Sam Holmes and Mark Potter Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Suggested Topics: Middle East Refining X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights

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About this analysis

Reuters reports the Revolutionary Guards' claim that two oil tankers hit naval mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Each claim is attributed to the Guards, IRNA or state media, and the article says the reports were not independently confirmed. It names the US-Israeli war on Iran as the cause of shipping disruption. Nothing in it misleads the reader.

What it gets right

  • “There was ​no independent confirmation of the reports.”

    Reuters tells the reader plainly that the Guards' account of the mine strikes is unverified. It does not present that account as established fact.

  • “a route not authorised by Iran”

    Reuters marks the route as unauthorised by Iran, which keeps it as Iran's position. The Times of Israel instead repeats that the tanker was 'attempting to illegally transit' the waterway.

  • “the US-Israeli war on Iran”

    Reuters names who is waging the war behind the shipping disruption. It does not fall back on vague talk of tensions with no actor.

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