IRGC Navy Strikes and Sets Ablaze Oil Tanker East of Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy struck and set fire to an oil tanker in the eastern Strait of Hormuz on October 13, 2026, publishing footage of the attack. Iranian state media outlets IRIB and IRNA described the vessel as a "violating" oil tanker, the term Iranian authorities use for ships they deem to be operating in breach of their maritime rules.

The incident is part of a broader Iranian escalation in the Hormuz region. Tanker attacks have surged to wartime highs, with more than a dozen strikes on commercial shipping recorded since the end of September, pushing crude oil prices above $100 a barrel. The United Arab Emirates said it rescued 22 crew members, all Indian nationals, following the tanker fire. The attacks have been testing the sustainability of a rebound in Middle East crude exports and raising the stakes for global oil markets.