Two Tankers Hit Mines in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Reports Daily Vessel Attacks
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Nov 11
Two Tankers Hit Mines in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Reports Daily Vessel Attacks
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Nov 11
Summary
Two oil tankers struck sea mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC said Wednesday, describing them as vessels that tried to leave overnight via an unauthorized route under U.S. fighter-jet protection.
The incidents extend months of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the waterway, where Iran says ships need its approval while the U.S. insists southern lanes remain safe and open.
Tuesday brought similar claims from Iran that two tankers caught fire after explosions, while the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center separately said a tanker reported being hit by a projectile in the strait.
The shipping threat underscores a wider war that still lacks a settlement: Iran's security chief said Tehran would not surrender even a single particle of enriched uranium, clouding U.S.-backed peace efforts.
Will Iran's refusal to surrender its highly enriched uranium inevitably trigger a devastating strike on its remaining nuclear facilities?
How will secret Moscow meetings and Russian nuclear cooperation reshape the ultimate peace agreement between Washington and Tehran?
If the US has already won the war, why are global energy prices surging and cyberattacks hitting European supermarkets?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Record 95% Shipping Collapse, Global Energy Shock, and the Battle for Maritime Control
Overview
In late 2026, escalating US-Iran tensions led to a sharp rise in tanker attacks and mine explosions in the Strait of Hormuz, crippling global shipping and causing massive oil spills that damaged marine life. The crisis began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Iran’s closure of the strait and a 95% drop in daily vessel traffic. As US naval blockades and Iranian mine deployments continued, oil prices soared, global LNG capacity shrank after drone strikes in Qatar, and fuel shortages hit developing countries. These disruptions triggered inflation, public discontent, and forced nations to accelerate clean energy adoption and rethink energy security.