Naval mine detonates tanker in Strait of Hormuz as US blockade redirects 18 commercial vessels

Jul 29, 2026 5 min read Share on LinkedIn
Naval mine detonates tanker in Strait of Hormuz as US blockade redirects 18 commercial vessels
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Strait of Hormuz

Mine strike hits tanker

Iranian media reported on Jul 26 that an oil tanker exploded after hitting a naval mine in the Strait, the first such casualty since the current escalation began, raising war risk exposure for all transiting tonnage.

US port blockade

18 vessels redirected

The US military redirected 18 commercial vessels on Jul 28 as part of a renewed blockade of Iranian ports, tightening the supply constraint on tonnage available for regional cargo and extending voyage times for vessels rerouted away from Iranian waters.

Oil futures

4.4 percent rally

US oil futures rose 4.4 percent on Jul 28 following Iran's ballistic missile attack on US bases, reversing the weekend's decline and signaling renewed market pricing for supply disruption risk in the Gulf.

This week: July 26-28

The Strait of Hormuz recorded its first tanker casualty from a naval mine this week, while US forces redirected 18 commercial vessels as part of a renewed port blockade targeting Iran. The mine strike and blockade come after a brief pause in attacks between the US and Iran gave way to renewed escalation, including an IRGC ballistic missile launch at US bases in the region.

Iran has signaled it will consider "any action" to maintain control over the Strait, even as talks with Oman on managing shipping through the chokepoint show progress. Oil futures rose 4.4 percent on Jul 28 following the missile attack, reversing the decline that had begun over the weekend when both sides ceased daily strikes.

Live feed

  • Jul 26 Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson says there has been progress in talks with Oman on managing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Jul 26 After nearly two weeks of bombings, two consecutive nights pass with no US attacks on Iran, and Tehran halts retaliatory attacks in the region.
  • LIVEJul 26 Iranian media report that an oil tanker has exploded after hitting a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • LIVEJul 28 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launches ballistic missiles at US bases in the region in what US Central Command describes as a surprise attack, with all missiles intercepted.
  • Jul 28 US oil futures rise 4.4 percent following the missile attack, reversing the decline that began over the weekend when both sides ceased daily strikes.
  • LIVEJul 28 The US military redirects 18 commercial vessels as part of its renewed blockade of Iranian ports.
  • Jul 28 Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, warns that Tehran will consider any action to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, including the resumption of war.

Previous 5 weeks: quick reference

July 19-25
Week 30
  • Naval blockade enforcement intensifies. CENTCOM reports 16 commercial vessels stopped by July 25: 12 redirected, 2 disabled, 2 boarded.
  • US strikes run 10 to 13 consecutive nights across the week. Trump weighs what he calls a "massive attack," and Defense Secretary Hegseth cites a war cost near $37.5 billion.
  • Iranian missile and drone attacks spread to Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. An unidentified projectile causes a fire on a tanker off Saudi Arabia, and Houthi forces strike two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
  • Iran's Health Ministry puts the death toll from US strikes since June 27 at 53, including three children.
  • UN Secretary-General Guterres warns the region is "teetering on the edge of the unimaginable" as the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan condemn Iran's attacks.
July 12-18
Week 29
  • The US reimposes its naval blockade on Iranian ports on July 13, effective 20:00 GMT.
  • The UAE says Iran targeted two of its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing an Indian crew member and injuring eight others.
  • US strikes expand into central Iran for a seventh consecutive night. Satellite imagery shows new damage at the Bushehr nuclear plant complex.
  • Kuwait's air defenses intercept 21 Iranian drones, and Iran's army says the strait will "never return to what it was before" the war.
  • Two US service members are killed in an attack in Jordan, prompting a new round of US strikes on Iran on July 18. Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, calls Trump's signature "worthless and invalid."
July 5-11
Week 28
  • Jul 7, 2026: US CENTCOM launched strikes on Iran after vessels were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz; Qatar summoned Iran's deputy ambassador to protest the targeting of a Qatari LNG tanker near the strait, and the US Treasury revoked the general licence authorising sales of Iranian oil.
  • Jul 8, 2026: US forces conducted additional strikes on Iran targeting sites in Sirik, Bushehr, Konarak and Chabahar, with CENTCOM stating the attacks aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Jul 9, 2026: Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply following the resurgence of violence, according to Lloyd's List, while US Central Command reported assisting safe passage for more than 800 merchant ships and 380 million barrels of crude since early May.
  • Jul 10, 2026: The US demanded Iran publish a statement clarifying that the Strait of Hormuz is open and commit to not firing at commercial vessels, while imposing new Iran-related sanctions; Kpler data showed shipping traffic through the strait declined for a second consecutive day.
  • Jul 11, 2026: The IRGC Navy announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, stating no vessels would be allowed through until US intervention in the region ends; Iran's foreign minister held talks in Oman on arrangements for safe passage through the waterway.
July 1-4
Week 27
  • Jul 1, 2026: Qatar confirmed positive progress in Doha talks between US and Iranian delegations (no direct contact), with both sides committing to continue discussions after the funeral of the former Iranian Supreme Leader, keeping open the prospect of a broader agreement that could lift Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
  • Jul 2, 2026: Iran's joint military command warned ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to use Tehran-approved routes or face forceful response, prompting an emergency UN Security Council session in which the US envoy called any closure of the strait unacceptable, escalating navigation risk for product and chemical tanker owners.
  • Jul 3, 2026: UK and French leaders issued a joint statement describing the Strait of Hormuz as a vital artery for the global economy and stressing that restoring safe transit for ships of all nations is a matter of global concern, underscoring European charterer and owner exposure to war risk premiums.
  • Jul 3, 2026: The first day of funeral proceedings for the late Iranian Supreme Leader took place, with US President Trump later confirming no exchanges of fire would occur during the seven-day event and that talks would resume afterward, temporarily stabilizing the outlook for Strait transit and insurance costs.
  • Jul 3, 2026: International Organization for Migration reported that over 640,000 displaced individuals in Lebanon have returned home following last month's US-Tehran agreement incorporating a Lebanon ceasefire, signaling potential normalization of Levant port and bunkering operations.

This overview is compiled from public reporting and official statements, including CENTCOM, the US Treasury, the IRGC, and Al Jazeera's coverage. It is provided for general market awareness and is not a substitute for official guidance, sanctions counsel, or vessel-specific risk assessment. SPI Marine does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Details from the most recent 1-2 days may be headline-level only, pending fuller confirmation. 

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