Iran Says Two More Tankers Hit Mines and Caught Fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday; Another Vessel Abandoned After Projectile Strike as Mediators Float a New Proposal to Revive U.S.-Iran Talks
Iran said on Tuesday that two "noncompliant" oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines it had placed along the southern shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports by Reuters and other outlets. Iran's Revolutionary Guards had earlier said a tanker caught fire and exploded after striking a naval mine in the southern Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday that a tanker near the strait reported being struck by a projectile, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel and board a lifeboat.
The Saudi-led coalition also said on Tuesday that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi movement toward Riyadh. The Houthis had claimed attacks on Saudi energy, airport and military targets, including an Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha airport; Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claims, which Reuters said it could not independently verify.
On shipping flows, analytics firm Kpler said at least 18 vessel attacks had been reported over the last two weeks, and that crude flows through the strait fell to a seven-day average of about 8.5 million barrels per day last week, down from more than 20 million barrels per day the previous week, with at least 10 confirmed incidents involving commercial vessels during the week. U.S. emergency oil reserves declined to 282.7 million barrels last week, their lowest since October 1982, according to Reuters. Saudi Aramco's chief executive, Amin Nasser, said earlier this month that it could take two years to refill global fuel stockpiles.
On diplomacy, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that mediators had presented a proposal to revive negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal and Investor's Business Daily; the Journal said it had not verified the report. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ibrahim bin Sultan Ibrahim al-Hashmi said Qatar backs diplomatic efforts and that there is no military solution to the conflict. U.S. Energy Secretary Wright said on Monday that Persian Gulf oil flows had recovered to about 80% of their pre-war level, though refined-product shipments remained constrained.
In markets, November West Texas Intermediate crude futures reached as high as $110.48 a barrel intraday on Tuesday; Investor's Business Daily noted WTI futures have not closed above $110 since April. December Brent crude futures exceeded $111 a barrel — a high not seen since May — before easing. In recent trading reported by Investopedia, WTI was up 1.7% at $105.40 a barrel and Brent was up 0.8% at $110.45; WTI had advanced for nine straight sessions, rising almost 25% since closing above $88 on October 7.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 霍尔木兹海峡地图资料图。图：美国中央情报局（CIA）绘制，Wikimedia Commons，Public domain。 / File map of the Strait of Hormuz. Map by the CIA, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
- 2026-10-16IRGC Says Supertanker Struck a Mine and Exploded in the Strait of Hormuz
- 2026-10-17Follow-Up: Iran's Guards Say Two Tankers Caught Fire After Hitting Mines in Strait of Hormuz, Second Vessel Left Immobilised
- 2026-10-18U.S. Says 97% of Ships Still Transiting Strait of Hormuz Safely; UKMTO Counts 135 Incidents Since Conflict Began
- 2026-10-18Iran's Araqchi Says Seven-Day Hormuz Proposal Still on the Table; Strait Could Reopen on Day Six if US Accepts Tehran's Conditions
- 2026-10-19IRGC Says Another Tanker Struck a Mine South of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday Evening, a Third After Saturday's Two (Iranian Claim)
- 2026-10-20Iran Says Two More Tankers Hit Mines and Caught Fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday; Another Vessel Abandoned After Projectile Strike as Mediators Float a New Proposal to Revive U.S.-Iran TalksThis story
- 2026-10-20Iran's Foreign Ministry Says Any New Attack Will Be Met With an Equal or Stronger Response, as Tehran Petitions the U.N. Over Threats to Its Energy Infrastructure
- 2026-10-21Pakistan's Army Chief Leaves Tehran Without a Breakthrough: Iran Sets Preconditions on the Blockade and Sanctions as U.S. Central Command Calls the Tanker Mine Claims False
- 2026-10-22Follow-Up: Iran Says Seven Oil Tankers Caught Fire or Were Damaged Overnight Near Strait of Hormuz; IRGC Warns Response Could Extend to U.S. Bases
- 2026-10-22Follow-Up: US, Israeli Militaries Said to Have Drawn Up Post-Midterm Strike Plans on Iran; Tehran Warns of a "Stronger" Response
- 2026-10-31Follow-Up: Iran's Supreme Leader Orders Military Ready to Respond to Any Attack as Envoys Meet Qatari Mediators in Doha
