IRGC: Mines Hit Two Tankers in Hormuz, Two Drones Captured

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says mines tore into two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving both burning, according to Iran's Fars News Agency. The IRGC described the first as a large tanker that was trying to slip through what it called the illegal southern passage of the strait when it struck a mine, caught fire and stopped. A second supertanker burned as it exited the eastern side of the strait, and the IRGC said a trespassing tugboat was also set alight in the two separate incidents.

The IRGC Navy's Electronic Warfare Unit had its own headline: it claims it seized control of two intruding Lucas-type aircraft, steered them down safely and captured them. Tehran has been quick to broadcast such intercepts lately. Earlier, the IRGC said it brought down a US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island.

The strait is the planet's most sensitive oil chokepoint, and any confirmed strike on tankers there ripples well beyond the Gulf. The IRGC's account has not been independently verified, and no casualty figures or vessel names were released.

The region is already coiled tight. Israel's high security alert remains active over fears Iran could launch a preemptive strike, sources told Israeli outlet i24News. A senior Israeli security official, speaking anonymously, said Iran sits in a difficult position while it waits on Washington's next move, and that Tehran does not want to be caught off guard for a third time.

In Washington, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration is keeping its foot down on anyone propping up the Iranian regime. Writing on X, he warned that under Operation Economic Outcast, “you are either with us or against us,” adding that sanctions will hit supporters moving by land, sea or air. The Treasury separately sanctioned India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma and his spouse, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, accusing them of aiding Tehran.

President Donald Trump told reporters the war in Iran was “largely true” to blame for Republicans losing the midterms, pinning it on a short-term bump in gasoline prices, and said he would do it all again rather than let Iran get a nuclear weapon. Farther east, South Korea is widening its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit toward the Arabian Sea with a maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team, per Yonhap, though officials say operations stay limited to open waters south of Oman.