IRGC says three tankers hit mines in Hormuz Strait, warns route is mined
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says three oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while using what Tehran calls an unauthorized southern passage through the Strait of Hormuz today. The IRGC claims the vessels had switched off radar and navigation systems and ignored naval warnings. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported a vessel on fire in the strait but gave no cause or casualty details. Separately, the IRGC says its forces captured a US MQM-170 reconnaissance drone in the western strait.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Since war broke out on February 28, Iran has restricted traffic through the waterway, and the US has blockaded Iranian ports. The IRGC now warns the southern corridor near the Omani coast is mined and blames US Central Command for encouraging ships to use it.
For Nigeria, this matters directly. As a major oil exporter, any sustained disruption to Hormuz traffic can spike global crude prices — boosting federal revenue but also raising domestic fuel costs if the government doesn't adjust subsidies. The vessel flags, exact timing, and casualty numbers remain unconfirmed.
With Hormuz handling 20% of world oil supply, how will this escalation affect Nigeria's crude earnings and pump prices in the coming weeks?