Fact Check: Is IRGC's claim about two tanker explosions in the Strait of Hormuz true?

WASHINGTON, DC: The Strait of Hormuz has remained at the center of global attention amid escalating tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. 

Amid the controversies, a viral claim circulating online alleged that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that two oil tankers exploded after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: IRGC claimed two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers exploded after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran and the United States continued exchanging drone and missile strikes.

In a statement published by IRNA, the IRGC said, "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 group also claimed it had "stopped" four ships attempting to transit the strategically important waterway, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil and gas shipments.

The claim came as the United States carried out strikes on Iran for a seventh consecutive night. In a statement posted on X, US Central Command said the operations were intended to "continue degrading Iranian military capabilities."

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had threatened to target Iranian infrastructure. However, as of Friday, Washington had not confirmed that US forces had begun carrying out such strikes.

The latest military exchanges marked the most significant escalation since hostilities resumed.

Fact Check: False, no evidence to support the claim

The IRGC's claim was debunked by CENTCOM, which said there was no evidence that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM shared a fact-check on X, labeling the claim false and writing, "CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that two oil tankers have exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines in the international waterway. FACT: Like most IRGC claims, this is false."

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route that handles about 20% of global oil supplies, has experienced reduced maritime traffic amid escalating US-Iran tensions and conflicting claims from both sides.

CENTCOM said US forces had "successfully destroyed" a surveillance tower at Iran's Shahid Kalantari Port in Chabahar. The command said the facility was part of a maritime surveillance network that the IRGC had used for years to monitor commercial vessels operating near the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, CENTCOM stated, "On July 16, U.S. forces successfully destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower, part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran's Gulf of Oman coastline used for decades by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to track and target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz."