By Fatma Younis
Iranian state media reported on Friday, October 30, 2026, that three oil tankers caught fire and exploded while navigating what were described as unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
Mine strike alleged
The IRGC Navy said one vessel carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil struck a mine. The assertion could not be immediately verified.
Drone and vessel claims
State media also reported that Iranian forces downed and captured a U.S. MQM-170 drone in airspace over Iran's Qeshm island near the strait. There was no immediate U.S. military response, and the account could not be independently verified. Iran further claimed to have destroyed an unmanned U.S. vessel in the eastern Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. denial
U.S. Central Command denied the report, posting on X that all U.S. military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones on patrol in the Strait of Hormuz.
This is a developing story.
