ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday that four oil tankers had been destroyed after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and claimed to have downed another US drone, as US media reported that President Donald Trump was considering renewed strikes against Iran following the US midterm elections.
The IRGC said the four tankers were attempting to cross what it described as a prohibited passage south of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that two other vessels had also been intercepted. The claims could not be independently verified.
In a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC said the tankers had struck naval mines and were “continu[ing] to burn in flames.” It did not identify the vessels or provide further details about their flags or ownership.
Tehran's claim comes amid the possibility of renewed confrontations between the US and Iran. The New York Times reported Tuesday that US strikes against Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday had been limited, with officials indicating that “there are no immediate plans to escalate.” However, it noted that the military action came “on the eve of the midterm elections.”
“President Trump, meanwhile, has been considering renewed strikes against Iran after the elections,” the newspaper reported.
The IRGC also claimed that its Aerospace Force had shot down a US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz at 4:30 am Wednesday, describing it as the 56th such aircraft it had downed.
The IRGC further warned that Wednesday would mark a major defeat for what it called “global arrogance,” drawing a comparison with the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker had been struck by two unidentified projectiles in its engine room, 14 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, on Tuesday.
The maritime monitor said there were no reported casualties or environmental impact. It advised vessels operating in the area to “transit with caution” while authorities investigate the incident.
The latest claims follow a series of maritime incidents in and around the strategic waterway. On Tuesday, the IRGC said three non-compliant oil tankers had exploded after striking naval mines, while UKMTO reported several attacks involving unidentified projectiles.
Iran has accused vessels of disabling their navigation and identification systems and using unauthorized routes through the strait. The IRGC has warned that ships disregarding its regulations and cooperating with the US military could face similar incidents.
According to the Washington Institute, at least four attacks against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters have been reported and confirmed since the beginning of November.
UKMTO recorded at least 30 maritime incidents in October, accounting for more than half of the incidents documented in the preceding month. It had recorded 88 incidents in the strait and at least 145 conflict-related maritime incidents since the beginning of the conflict, as of Friday.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has previously rejected Iranian assertions that sea mines threaten the strait's internationally recognized shipping lanes, maintaining that US forces had cleared the primary transit routes.
“All internationally recognized primary transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of sea mines by U.S. forces,” CENTCOM said, adding that “Thousands of commercial vessels have safely used the transit lanes and continue today.”
