Iran and the United States are reporting conflicting accounts of an incident involving two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on July 13, 2026 [2].
This dispute occurs amid ongoing strikes between the two nations, raising concerns over the stability of one of the world's most critical oil transit corridors.
A spokesperson for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz [1]. The Iranian military said it struck and disabled two "rogue supertankers" that were violating its maritime corridor [3].
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected these reports. A representative for the command said the explosions never happened [1].
The reported incidents took place south of the strait, near Omani territorial waters [1, 3]. While the U.S. disputes the explosions of the two tankers, other maritime reports indicate a volatile environment in the region. On a separate vessel, the Al Bahyah, one person died and three others were injured [4].
Iranian officials have framed the targeting of the vessels as a response to maritime violations. The U.S. has characterized the Iranian claims as misinformation during the current cycle of military strikes [3].
Maritime security analysts have noted that oil tankers are facing a worst-case scenario in the region as Iran increases its attacks on ships [4]. The discrepancy between the IRGC's claims of destroyed vessels and CENTCOM's denial highlights the difficulty of verifying tactical events during the conflict.
“"The explosions simply never happened."”
The contradictory reports from the IRGC and CENTCOM underscore a deepening information war accompanying the physical conflict. By claiming the destruction of 'rogue' vessels, Iran seeks to project maritime dominance and deter transit, while the U.S. denial aims to prevent panic in global energy markets and discredit Iranian narratives. The presence of confirmed casualties on other vessels, such as the Al Bahyah, suggests that regardless of the specific veracity of the two-tanker explosion claim, the risk to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has reached a critical level.
