LNG Tanker Hits Mine and Explodes in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Says - US News Pulse

A liquefied natural gas tanker struck a naval mine and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the world's most important oil waterway. The blast, reported by Iranian state media, came a day after four oil tankers were hit by explosions in the same strait. No details about the vessel were immediately available, not its name, its flag, or whether anyone on board was hurt, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the Iranian account. At least 10 ships have been hit in the first 10 days of November alone, after 37 attacks in October, the highest monthly total since the war began on February 28, 2026.

Key Points

• An LNG tanker hit a naval mine and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, November 13, 2026, Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy said.
• The vessel was using what Iran called an "unauthorised and dangerous route"; no name, nationality, casualty or damage details were released.
• Reuters said it is separate from Thursday's attacks, when four oil tankers were hit by explosions and two more caught fire after striking mines.
• At least 10 ships have been hit in the first 10 days of November, after 37 attacks in October, per Washington Institute data.
• Brent crude was set for a second weekly fall on Friday, around $95.41 a barrel, after President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran was "not necessary".

What Happened

Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy said the LNG tanker struck a naval mine and suffered an explosion while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Iranian state media carried the announcement, saying the vessel had been using what the Guards described as an "unauthorised and dangerous route". No further details were given: the tanker was not named, its nationality was not stated, and there was no word on casualties or damage.

Reuters was careful to separate Friday's incident from the attacks a day earlier. On Thursday, Iranian media reported that four oil tankers had been hit by explosions in the strait after ignoring warnings and entering restricted areas. The Iranian army later said two more tankers east of the strait caught fire after hitting naval mines. Friday's LNG tanker is a seventh vessel in two days, and a different kind of target: a gas carrier, not an oil tanker.

LNG Tanker Explosion in the Strait of Hormuz: What We Know So Far

What is known is limited but clear. A tanker carrying liquefied natural gas hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, November 13, 2026, and an explosion followed. Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy announced it through state media. What is not known is almost everything else: the ship's name, its flag, its owner, its destination, the scale of the damage, and whether any crew members were injured or killed.

The cargo matters. LNG carriers move super-cooled fuel in sealed tanks, and a serious fire aboard one can be far harder to control than a fire on an oil tanker. It is not the first LNG vessel caught up in this war: on November 1, the Marshall Islands-flagged Al Mayeda, carrying Qatari LNG to Pakistan, was hit by unidentified projectiles near the strait, an attack Qatar condemned. No one was hurt. Friday's mine strike is the first reported mine attack on an LNG carrier in this conflict.

Background: Nine Months of Attacks on Shipping

The United States-Iran war began on February 28, 2026, and the Strait of Hormuz has been its most contested front. The strait is about 21 miles wide at its tightest point, and roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes through it, along with large volumes of liquefied natural gas bound for Asia.

Attacks on shipping have accelerated sharply. Washington Institute for Near East Policy data counts 37 vessels attacked in October, the highest monthly tally since the war began, and at least 10 more hit in the first 10 days of November, before Friday's LNG tanker.

Just two weeks ago, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of United States Central Command, said American forces had "successfully cleared the strait's internationally recognised primary transit routes of Iranian sea mines". Friday's explosion shows the threat has not gone away.

Reactions and Quotes

Iran framed the blast as the consequence of disobedience. The Guards said the tanker had taken an "unauthorised and dangerous route", the same language used for Thursday's four oil tankers, which were said to have ignored warnings and entered restricted areas.

In Washington, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that a deal with Iran was "not necessary" and that he would stick with the blockade. Brent crude was set for a second weekly decline on Friday, around $95.41 a barrel, after jumping $3.06 to settle at $95.82 on Thursday.

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is the chokepoint the world cannot route around. About a fifth of global oil moves through it, and so does a large share of the liquefied natural gas that heats homes and powers industry across Asia. Every attack pushes up war-risk insurance, freight rates and energy prices, and each one raises the question of whether the next strike will block the channel altogether.

An LNG carrier changes the calculation. Gas is harder to replace quickly than crude, and buyers in Asia, including Pakistan, depend on steady deliveries through the strait. A serious incident could disrupt gas supplies, not just oil.

What Happens Next

What follows turns on the tanker's identity and condition, on whether the United States or its allies respond, and on whether Iran keeps warning shipping away from routes it calls unauthorised.

Oil markets will give the earliest signal. Brent was already heading for a second weekly fall on Friday, and traders will watch Monday's open. Diplomacy looks stalled: Trump has said a deal is "not necessary", and the blockade remains in place.

Read more: Four tankers hit by explosions in Strait of Hormuz as Iran says two more strike mines; Al Mayeda LNG tanker attack near Hormuz draws Qatar condemnation; Two supertankers explode in Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines, IRGC says.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the LNG tanker in the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy said it struck a naval mine and exploded on Friday, November 13, 2026, while using an "unauthorised and dangerous route".

Was anyone hurt in the explosion?
It is not known. Iranian state media gave no casualty information, and Reuters said it could not verify the account.

Is this the same incident as Thursday's tanker explosions?
No. Reuters distinguished Friday's LNG tanker mine strike from Thursday's attacks, when four oil tankers were hit by explosions and two more caught fire.

How many ships have been attacked in the strait?
At least 10 in the first 10 days of November, after 37 in October, the highest monthly tally since the war began.

Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter so much?
Roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes through it, along with large volumes of liquefied natural gas bound for Asia.