Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines south of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, June 10, 2024 [1].

The incident threatens to escalate tensions in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, where any disruption to oil flow can trigger global economic volatility.

According to the IRGC, the vessels caught fire after being lured into the minefield by what it called deception on the part of American intelligence agencies [2]. The IRGC said the tankers were "deviant" and were misled into the mined route [2].

U.S. military officials disputed the account. A CENTCOM spokesperson said the claim is false and that there is no evidence of any explosions [3].

Despite the denial from Washington, some maritime analysts suggest ships are changing their behavior. A Kpler analyst said data shows ships that still sail are hugging Iranian waters and coordinating with Tehran, not trusting Washington's corridor [4].

Reports indicate that four other tankers were blocked by Iran later that same day [5]. The IRGC said two tankers were reported on fire during the events of June 10 [5].

This contradiction between the IRGC and CENTCOM highlights the ongoing information war regarding naval security in the region. While the IRGC points to U.S. intelligence as the cause of the danger, the U.S. said the reported explosions simply never happened [3].

“The vessels caught fire after being lured into the minefield by what it called deception on the part of American intelligence agencies.”

The discrepancy between Iranian and U.S. accounts suggests a high level of strategic ambiguity in the Strait of Hormuz. If shipping companies perceive the U.S.-backed corridors as unsafe and instead coordinate with Tehran, it indicates a shift in maritime trust that could grant Iran greater leverage over global energy transit.