Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said it struck a Togo-flagged oil tanker that it accused of attempting an "illegal passage" through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported early on Friday (September 18, 2026).

The vessel, identified in the Guards' statement as the Togo-flagged oil tanker "Trend," was targeted and detained after a fire broke out on board, according to the statement carried by state news agency IRNA. The Guards said the tanker came to a halt after catching fire. The attack took place on Thursday (September 17, 2026).

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced on Thursday a "security incident in the Strait of Hormuz, 16 nautical miles (29.6 km) northeast of Khasab, Oman." UKMTO did not provide further details in the account available.

According to the reports, Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel struck Iran in late February. The Islamic republic wants to charge tolls for passage and has attacked ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for international shipping, and the incident is part of a pattern of attacks on vessels that Iranian authorities say are avoiding its designated route. The accounts of the strike come from Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Iranian state media; UKMTO confirmed only that a security incident occurred in the area without giving details of the cause or the vessel involved.