IRGC says the third offending oil tanker on the unauthorised route of the Strait of Hormuz exploded this afternoon after hitting a naval mine, reports Tasnim

• After the destruction of the US military's radar and coastal navigation aid systems in the southern Strait of Hormuz, tankers are taking multiple risks trying to pass through the illegal route of the Strait, which is hit by naval mines.

Strait of Hormuz disruption episodes have followed a recognisable pattern: initial spikes in crude fade quickly where flows are physically uninterrupted, and the durable repricing comes through freight, war-risk insurance premia and tanker availability rather than through outright supply loss. A mine strike is the more serious variant within that taxonomy; mining threats have historically been the scenario most capable of closing or slowing the strait, since insurers and shipowners pull tonnage before any government acts. The distinction that matters is whether this is an isolated incident attributed to one side's account or part of a sustained interdiction campaign, and sourcing here is a state-aligned outlet, which has historically mixed genuine incident reporting with signalling. Past episodes of tanker attacks in the Gulf have tended to escalate through attribution disputes, naval escort announcements and eventually convoy arrangements rather than immediate closure. The follow-ons that have mattered are confirmed AIS and shipping data on transit volumes, insurance market moves, any naval escort response, and whether the claim of destroyed navigation aids is corroborated, since that would compound the mining risk for remaining traffic.