Signing you in

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

Image used for representative purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday (July 18, 2026) that two oil tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz hit mines and exploded, a claim disputed by the U.S. military.

"An hour ago, two oil tankers, which were trying to pass through the minefield south of the Strait of Hormuz by deceptive American intelligence agencies, exploded and caught fire," the Guards said in a statement published by state news agency IRNA, without identifying the tankers.

"To protect their capital and, more importantly, their lives, the sailors should not be deceived and enter the minefield," they said.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a brief denial, saying on X, "Like most IRGC claims, this is false."

The Guards said separately on Saturday (July 18) that they had "stopped" four ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

"In the past hours, four violating ships with the support of the terrorist U.S. Army were trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and all four ships were stopped in place during a combined missile and drone operation," the Guards said in a statement carried by the state broadcaster.

Iran has again virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz for a week.

It is seeking to control the vital waterway and has been warning tankers and cargo ships to only use channels close to its coastline, to the north of the strait, and not southern corridors the United States has been attempting to protect.

The U.S., in response to Iran's threats to shipping in the strait, reimposed a navy blockade against Iranian ports. It has also been carrying out nightly airstrikes on targets in Iran aimed at weakening Tehran's abilities to monitor and threaten the strait.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.