Iran's IRGC mines tankers in Hormuz, Tehran threatens undersea cables

Washington dismisses drone claim as UKMTO reports incident

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday its naval mines struck two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, setting them ablaze, as Tehran threatened to escalate the conflict by targeting undersea internet cables and unveiling new weapons. The incident deepens the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and Washington, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

The IRGC said in a statement that the tankers were using a route it unilaterally designates as unauthorised in the southern part of the strait near the Omani coast. Tehran has no recognised authority under international maritime law to restrict or authorise passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which is subject to the right of transit passage under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"With the explosion of mines laid by the IRGC Navy in the illegal passage south of the Strait of Hormuz, two offending tankers were set on fire and brought to a standstill," the IRGC statement said. Neither vessel was named nor was the precise location disclosed.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported receiving an account of "an incident between an oil tanker and military forces" on Monday, some 121 nautical miles east of the Omani city of Duqm. UKMTO reported no damage or casualties and did not identify the vessel.

The IRGC also claimed that its air defence system had shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the strait on Monday night. A US official, speaking to US media outlets, dismissed the claim as untrue. Some Iranian domestic outlets reported that a US airstrike hit a naval base in Konarak, wounding two military personnel and targeting an air defence installation. Washington has not commented on the report.

IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mojabi threatened to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf and the strait, saying "new weapons will be unveiled" with the aim of, in his words, removing US military presence from the region. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran would retaliate against any US attack. "In practice we have shown that we absolutely do not leave any blow unanswered," he said in response to reports that Washington had urged Iran to hold back in the event of a strike on Kuh Kalang. "A US attack on Kuh Kalang and Iran not responding is fantasy and empty talk."

The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed Iranian security source as saying uncertainty over decision-making authority in Washington was complicating negotiations, naming Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump administration negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as figures whose respective roles remained unclear to Iranian officials.

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation, said about 6,000 seafarers have been stranded in the strait since the war began. He criticised shipowners for continuing to send crews into the area. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the war began. Both Tehran and Washington have implemented blockades in the strait, while Iran has repeatedly targeted cargo vessels using the southern section of the waterway.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and escalation here threatens oil markets and the world economy.
The threat to undersea internet cables represents a dangerous expansion of the conflict into civilian digital infrastructure, potentially impacting global communications.
With thousands of seafarers stranded and both sides expanding operations, the risk of a direct military confrontation between Iran and the United States is rising.

Background

The current conflict traces back to US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Since then, both Iran and the US have implemented blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran repeatedly targeting vessels in the southern section. The US has deployed significant naval assets to the region, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Iran has no legal standing under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to regulate passage through the strait.

Key Perspectives

[Iran/IRGC]: Views the southern passage as illegal and its military actions as defensive against what it frames as US aggression. Its threats against undersea cables are a stated attempt to force a removal of US military presence. It insists its right to retaliate against any US strike is absolute. [United States]: Has publicly dismissed Iranian claims regarding the downing of a drone. It has not yet officially commented on the latest tanker attacks or the reported airstrike on Konarak. The Pentagon is reportedly deploying additional forces to the region, suggesting a posture of deterrence. [Critics/Skeptics]: The International Maritime Organisation has deeply criticised shipowners for endangering crews by continuing operations in the war zone, highlighting the humanitarian crisis of thousands of seafarers trapped on vessels with no clear path to safety.

What to Watch

Confirmation of damage to the reported tankers and whether casualties are identified.
Any verified disruption to undersea internet cables in the Gulf, which would mark a major new phase in the conflict.
Official statements from the US administration regarding its decision-making structure in negotiations with Iran, as suggested by the Iranian sources.

Sources

IRGC mines set tankers ablaze as Tehran threatens expanded attacks · Euronews

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe IRGC statement says mines it laid set two tankers on fire and brought them to a standstill.Euronews: “"With the explosion of mines laid by the IRGC Navy in the illegal passage south of the Strait of Hormuz, two offending tankers were set on fire and brought to a standstill," the IRGC statement said.”
SupportedBaghaei said Iran does not leave any blow unanswered.Euronews: “"In practice we have shown that we absolutely do not leave any blow unanswered," he said”
Partly supportedThe IRGC mined two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.Euronews: “Iran’s IRGC said two oil tankers struck mines the elite paramilitary had laid in the Strait of Hormuz, setting both vessels ablaze”
Partly supportedWashington dismissed the drone claim.Euronews: “A US official, speaking to US media outlets, dismissed the claim as untrue.”
Partly supportedThe IRGC said Monday that its mines struck two tankers.Euronews: “Iran’s IRGC said two oil tankers struck mines the elite paramilitary had laid in the Strait of Hormuz, setting both vessels ablaze”
Not in the sourcesThe tanker incident deepened the confrontation between Tehran and Washington.Euronews
SupportedThe IRGC claimed it shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the strait on Monday night, and a US official called the claim untrue.Euronews: “The IRGC also claimed that their air defence system had shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the strait on Monday night. A US official, speaking to US media outlets, dismissed the claim as untrue.”
SupportedUKMTO received an account of an incident between an oil tanker and military forces on Monday, 121 nautical miles east of Duqm, and reported no damage or casualties.Euronews: “The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Tuesday that it had received an account of "an incident between an oil tanker and military forces" on Monday, some 121 nautical miles east of the Omani city of Duqm. UKMTO reported no damage or casualties”
SupportedIranian domestic outlets reported a US airstrike on a naval base in Konarak that wounded two military personnel and targeted an air-defence installation; Washington had not commented.Euronews: “Some Iranian domestic outlets, including the state-affiliated Fars agency, reported that a US airstrike hit a naval base in Konarak in Sistan and Baluchistan province on Monday, wounding two military personnel and targeting an air defence installation. Washington has not commented on the report.”
SupportedIRGC spokesperson Hossein Mojabi threatened to target undersea internet cables and said new weapons would be unveiled.Euronews: “IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mojabi threatened on Monday to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf and the strait, saying "new weapons will be unveiled"”
SupportedAbout 6,000 seafarers have been stranded in the strait since the war began.Euronews: “Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation, said about 6,000 seafarers have been stranded in the strait since the war began.”
SupportedRoughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the war began in late February.Euronews: “Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.”