IRGC Navy Claims Seven Oil Vessels Hit in Gulf and Near Hormuz on ‘Unauthorized Routes’
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy says four vessels caught fire during ship-to-ship oil transfers in the north-central Persian Gulf and three more struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, all allegedly using “unauthorized routes,” a claim that raises fresh questions over safety in a key energy corridor.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says seven oil vessels were damaged in two separate incidents in and near the Persian Gulf’s main shipping lanes, a claim that again highlights how Tehran views traffic off its coast.
According to the account carried by @KurdishFrontNews, the IRGC Navy says four vessels were struck simultaneously and set ablaze while transferring oil between ships in the north‑central Persian Gulf after using what it described as “unauthorized routes.” In a second episode, the IRGC said three other vessels struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz last night and caught fire.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the ownership of the vessels, the full extent of damage or whether mines were in fact involved. Details beyond the Iranian claim remained limited.
The reference to “unauthorized routes” fits with how Iranian authorities often describe ship‑to‑ship transfers and cargo movements they link to smuggling or sanctions evasion. Tehran has long argued it has the right to police such activity inside or near its waters, while foreign operators view sudden enforcement moves or interference as a source of risk.
For shipping companies and crews, the incidents, if confirmed, would underscore the dangers of operating near contested chokepoints. A vessel hit by a mine or damaged during a raid can quickly become an onboard fire and evacuation crisis, particularly during oil transfers in confined waters.
The IRGC’s report comes at a time of broader tension over Gulf security and energy flows. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has separately argued that the Strait of Hormuz is “blocked” and has linked that to global diesel prices, while Brent crude has moved to within about $2 of a new high for 2026.
Whether these reported strikes turn out to be localized incidents or part of a broader pattern, shipowners, insurers and Gulf states will be watching for concrete signs: visual evidence of damaged hulls in regional ports, updated war‑risk premiums for routes near Iran, and any adjustments in guidance from Western and regional navies to commercial traffic around Hormuz.
Sources
- OSINT