Tehran, Iran, November 12, 2026 — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Thursday that two oil tankers carrying a combined total of more than 4 million barrels of crude caught fire following an "accident" in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Guards, the incident occurred while the vessels were navigating an unauthorized shipping route through the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint for energy supplies. However, since the outbreak of the war in West Asia in late February 2026, Tehran has heavily restricted maritime traffic through the channel. Iranian authorities now insist that all vessels strictly adhere to pre-approved routes monitored by the state.
This latest incident fits a growing pattern. Over the past several weeks, Iranian forces have repeatedly announced that ships attempting to bypass these restricted zones have caught fire, raising tensions and concerns among international shipping and energy markets about the safety and freedom of navigation in the region.