In brief
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said four oil tankers on a prohibited route through the Strait of Hormuz struck mines and detonated, setting them ablaze. In the same operation, Iranian air‑defence forces downed an MQ‑9 Reaper drone and earlier had shot down two low‑cost UAS. The IRGC warned that its forces are prepared for decisive action against the United States and Israel.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that four oil tankers were intercepted on the southern, prohibited route of the Strait of Hormuz, struck naval mines, and exploded, setting the vessels on fire. The statement, posted on the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News, also noted that two additional ships that had attempted to cross the strait were prevented from doing so.
The tankers were described by the IRGC as "violating" ships that sought passage in a section of the waterway where Iranian forces had imposed a blockade since late February, following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. The military’s blockade has been aimed at vessels that are affiliated with or from the United States and Israel.
In a separate operation that same morning, Iranian air‑defence forces claimed to have downed an MQ‑9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz at about 4:30 a.m. local time (0100 GMT). The drone was reported to be one of the 56th MQ‑9 Reaper units intercepted in the months leading up to the incident. Earlier in the week, the IRGC said that its air‑defence units had hit two low‑cost uncrewed combat attack system drones over the southern Iranian port city of Bandar‑e Khamir.
The IRGC’s statement came after a broader tightening of Iranian military control in the strait, which began on February 28, when authorities announced that safe passage would be denied to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States. The ministry cited the joint strikes by Washington and Tel Aviv on Iranian sites as the trigger for the enhanced security measures.
During the truckled account of the incident, the IRGC’s spokesperson warned that Iranian forces were prepared to deliver a "final blow" to the United States and Israel in case of continued hostilities. The alert was part of a wider series of claims that the Iranian military had successfully intercepted hostile UAVs and was engaging in defensive operations to protect vital maritime routes.
The incident reflects the growing tension in the region and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. The tanks and other vessels involved were reportedly attempting to navigate a route that Iranian officials have deemed forbidden and heavily monitored.
This event was reported by Xinhua on November 4, 2026, and announced through the IRGC’s official channels, underscoring the evolving security dynamics in the Gulf and the heightened precautions that Iranian military authorities are taking in response to external military activities.
