Oil tanker strikes naval mine and catches fire in southern Strait of Hormuz, IRGC warns vessels operating with systems off

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on October 19, 2026, that an oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz. The blast struck the vessel's engine room as it attempted to leave the strategic waterway. The IRGC Navy accused the tanker of violating maritime regulations by having its positioning and navigation systems switched off and attempting to use an unauthorized route. The IRGC warned that ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf with their navigation and identification systems switched off would face a firm response.