Iran’s Mine Claims Exposed: CENTCOM Calls Out Strait of Hormuz
CENTCOM denies Iran’s mine strike claims as 30 vessels blocked in 10 days amid escalating tensions
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been caught fabricating mine strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which called the claims “yet another IRGC attempt to intimidate regional commercial shipping through disinformation.”
The latest episode unfolded on Monday when the IRGC issued a statement alleging a supertanker had been forced to stop after striking two sea mines in the Strait’s southern route. The IRGC warned that “other vessels that attempt to violate IRGC’s security rules would face the same fate,” insisting that compliance with Iranian regulations was mandatory. However, CENTCOM swiftly countered the narrative, denying any mine strikes while acknowledging that vessels had been targeted in the waterway.
CENTCOM CENTCOM Strikes Iranian Launchers on Larak Island: strait of hormuz
The denial comes just days after CENTCOM declared the Strait of Hormuz completely demined. Overnight, U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island before they could deploy additional mines, marking the first such action in August. The move followed a series of attacks on commercial vessels, including the Kuwaiti-flagged Burgan (46,330 dwt), which was struck by an unknown projectile on August 30.
Analyst Martin Kelly of EOS Group identified the vessel and noted it was the second Kuwaiti tanker hit within 48 hours, with Iran using small boats and searchlights to track ships attempting to transit via the Omani route.
Late on Monday, August 31 evening, reports emerged of another attack: the Saudi-flagged Sidr (300,759 dwt), operated by Bahri, was hit by three projectiles while outbound 17 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident, adding to a growing list of vessels targeted in the Strait. Iran’s WANA News, linked to the IRGC, claimed the tanker ran aground near Oman after the explosion, though these reports remain unverified.
The IRGC’s campaign to reassert control over the Strait has intensified in recent weeks. Mehr News Agency quoted the IRGC as saying 30 vessels have been prevented from transiting since August 22, though it claimed over 1,500 oil tankers and 1,700 commercial vessels had successfully passed through the designated route in 2026 after paying transit fees.
The Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Department added to the tensions on Monday, announcing it had stopped a bulk carrier for allegedly discharging a mixture of oil, bilge water, and sludge into the Strait, an accusation that further complicates an already volatile situation.
Martin Kelly noted that the U.S. strikes on Larak Island were a direct response to at least 10 vessels being attacked in the Strait. The retaliatory action drew a swift response from Iran, which fired missiles toward U.S. bases in Kuwait and Jordan. Unconfirmed reports late Monday suggested U.S. forces had also targeted a tanker in the Indian Ocean near the blockade line, though CENTCOM has not commented on these claims.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on Monday, telling reporters, “We will be hitting Iran … very hard” in response to the attacks on U.S. bases.
“Iran was using small boats and a searchlight to identify tankers attempting to transit on the Omani route.”
Martin Kelly·Analyst at EOS Group
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