Following reported explosions on 3 ships in Strait of Hormuz, IRGC threatens vessels operating outside Iranian route

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Sunday morning that explosions occurred on three oil tankers “traveling along unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz.”

In a statement on the state-owned Islamic Revolutionary News Agency (IRNA), the IRGC said that “three offending oil tankers – traveling along unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz – have suffered explosions and intense fires.”

The IRGC did not take direct responsibility for the explosions, despite previously firing on vessels attempting to transit outside of the IRGC-approved route, and despite having deployed sea mines in the Strait.

The IRGC further stated that “Iranian regulations governing the Strait of Hormuz have been repeatedly communicated to all vessels,” warning that any vessel attempting to transit the Strait outside of the Iranian-approved route could expect a similar fate.

The explosions came after the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted additional strikes on Qeshm Island and announced it had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman which “attempted to violate the naval blockade.”

CENTCOM said it fired “precision munitions” at the ship after the vessel’s crew “ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran multiple times.”

CENTCOM forces disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 7, after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran multiple times. A U.S. military aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern of St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda, disabling the ship after CENTCOM forces directed the crew to abandon targeted spaces. The cargo vessel tried to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port. Read the full release online: https://t.co/5wW1LqN1oW

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 7, 2026

“CENTCOM continues to strictly enforce America’s naval blockade against Iran,” the statement said. “Enforcement actions since July have resulted in U.S. forces redirecting 147 commercial vessels that complied and disabled five merchant ships that refused to comply.”

|Additionally, CENTCOM has previously destroyed another 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers that were part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ multibillion-dollar shadow network,” it added.

Earlier on Saturday, CENTCOM announced a reward of “up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above.”

The announcement was panned by many social media users, who replied with pictures of a White House press release from June 2025, which stated, “Iran’s nuclear facilities have been obliterated – and suggestions otherwise are fake news.”

Later that same day, CENTCOM announced the establishment of a new task force, aimed at enforcing and extending the existing naval blockade “to prevent Iran from using ground routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials.”

Called Task Force Iron Gate, the new group will focus on implementing a plan to restrict Iran’s ability to smuggle materials through overland routes in neighboring countries and across the Caspian Sea.

The new task force will move to close several alternate routes, including land routes and shipping via the Caspian Sea, which have enabled Iran to resupply and reconstruct its military capabilities since the implementation of the U.S. naval blockade.

While the majority of Iran’s trade before the blockade came through shipping via the Persian Gulf, since the implementation of that blockade, Iran has moved quickly to increase traffic through its land routes with Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which stood at around $22 billion combined before the Feb. 28, 2026, war between the Islamic Republic and the U.S. with Israel.

Mohsen Rezaee, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, posted a message in English to social media, claiming that the administration of Donald Trump was in shambles following the decision to attack Iran.

“You lost the war and the election,” Rezaee wrote. “Vance has conceded, Rubio is heading for the exit, Hegseth is about to be fired, and the CENTCOM commander is now a podcaster.”

“So, who exactly in Washington do we need to get this message across to?” he continued. “Start a war, and you’ll face a devastating response.”

Acting Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Sunday morning that the Islamic Republic has not given up its goal of obtaining nuclear weapons.

Speaking at a memorial for Israeli soldiers killed during the 1956 Suez War, Minister Katz said, “Iran is seeking to renew its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, alongside other serious efforts that pose a real danger to the State of Israel.”

“We cannot accept these threats,” Katz continued. He also called for unity among Israeli society, saying, “It is our duty to be prepared for every scenario and to act as necessary to protect Israeli citizens. Ahead of the major missions still before us, we must be united.”

Israeli open source intelligence site Netziv Net noted the arrival of several U.S. resupply aircraft and the apparent deployment of additional special operations units into the region over the past week, as indicating a possible resumption of military operations in Iran in the coming days.

At the same time, the site showed recent satellite imagery which appeared to depict rehabilitation efforts at several Iranian sites struck during the U.S. and Israeli operations earlier this year.

Meanwhile, former National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata, warned against a failed strike that does not destroy Iran’s nuclear program.

In an interview with 103fm Radio, Hulata said, “Regarding any potential strike, we must ask: what will be the ultimate outcome, and how does it improve our situation?”

“If Iran knows that Pickaxe Mountain is secure – because neither Israel nor the United States is capable of striking it – and we continue to carry out attacks in Iran without destroying that facility, what do we expect them to do?” Hulata continued. “They will entrench themselves there and complete the work. This is extremely dangerous.”