Iran has claimed full control over the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions with the United States, while alleging that two supertankers carrying more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil struck naval mines while attempting to navigate an unauthorised route through the strategic waterway. The claims, reported by Iranian state media on Saturday, October 24, could not be independently verified.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its forces continued to enforce maritime restrictions in the strait and warned that vessels attempting to transit without coordinating with Iranian authorities could face serious consequences. The IRGC Navy alleged that explosions and severe fires in the tankers’ engine rooms disabled the vessels and forced their crews to abandon ship. The report did not identify the tankers or their operators, and no independent confirmation was immediately available.
Iranian military officials also warned against the entry of US naval vessels into the Persian Gulf. Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said Tehran would not permit American military ships to enter the Gulf, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV. The statements challenge Washington’s position that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
However, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that oil exports from the Persian Gulf had recovered beyond pre-conflict levels despite Iran’s attempts to disrupt maritime traffic. In a post on X, Bessent maintained that Iranian threats had failed to stop energy shipments to international markets, presenting a contrasting account of the situation facing commercial shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical transit route for global crude oil and petroleum product shipments. Any sustained disruption could affect supply flows, shipping and insurance costs, and international oil prices. For Nigeria, prolonged increases in crude and refined product prices could raise import replacement costs and put further pressure on domestic fuel prices.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said a US strike against Iran could take place over the weekend, although he maintained that President Donald Trump remained open to a diplomatic agreement. Barrack said diplomatic efforts involving regional countries, including Pakistan and Qatar, were continuing, with discussions reportedly covering the Strait of Hormuz, uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets and security commitments involving Israel.
Trump appeared to distance himself from Barrack’s remarks when questioned about the possibility of an imminent strike, saying he was unaware of the ambassador’s comments. However, during an election rally in Florida, the US president warned that Washington could launch “another little Epic Fury” against Iran if Tehran failed to reach an agreement.
The competing statements from Tehran and Washington leave uncertainty over maritime security and the outlook for energy shipments through the Gulf. While Iran claims to control access to the strait, the US says exports have recovered beyond pre-conflict levels. The actual extent of any disruption remains unclear, making developments in the region important for oil traders, refiners and energy-importing countries.
For Nigeria’s downstream market, the key concern is whether renewed military action or tighter restrictions on shipping will sustain the rise in international crude and product prices. Any prolonged disruption could increase supply costs for importers and influence local depot pricing, although the extent of the impact would depend on global market movements, domestic refinery supply, exchange rates and local distribution conditions.