Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday, 23 July that it had intercepted three oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with one vessel catching fire after an explosion — the most direct escalation yet in the deepening maritime standoff between Tehran and Washington.

What the IRGC Said

In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the IRGC said the tankers were 'provoked and tempted by the child-killing American army' and were attempting to use a 'mine-laid route south of the Strait of Hormuz.' According to the statement, after one tanker 'exploded and caught fire, the other two quickly turned around and turned back.' The IRGC further warned that any vessel 'deceived' by the United States and attempting passage without Iran's consent 'will suffer the same fate.'

US Strikes Hit Western and Southern Iran

The tanker incident followed US military strikes on Wednesday — the 12th consecutive night of American operations against Iranian targets. According to Iranian state media, US missiles struck locations near the cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir, and Andimeshk in western Iran, as well as a power station near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran. Two people were reportedly killed in the town of Shalamcheh on the Iraqi border.

The US Central Command stated that the strikes were aimed at further degrading 'Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,' as both sides intensify their contest for control of the strategically critical strait.

Trump's Warning and Tehran's Response

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning earlier on Wednesday, threatening to 'bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant' each time Iran fires on a ship in the strait. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: 'From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy One bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran.'

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi responded the same day in a post on X, declaring that Iran would adopt an 'eye for an eye' defence doctrine. 'Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,' Araghchi wrote.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's single most critical oil chokepoint, through which roughly 20% of global petroleum supplies transit daily. Any sustained disruption to shipping in the strait risks triggering immediate spikes in global crude prices and supply-chain shocks across Asia, Europe, and beyond. This is the first confirmed tanker interception with a reported explosion since the current round of US strikes began, marking a significant escalation in the physical risk to commercial shipping.

What Comes Next

With 12 consecutive nights of US strikes and Iran now physically stopping and reportedly destroying vessels, the confrontation has moved beyond rhetoric. Shipping insurers and oil markets are likely to reprice risk sharply. The international community, including major crude importers such as India and China, faces mounting pressure to respond diplomatically as the corridor that feeds their energy needs comes under direct threat.