Iran's Revolutionary Guard strikes Togo-flagged tanker in Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on September 18, 2026, that it struck the Togo-flagged oil tanker 'Trend' while it was navigating the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IRGC statement cited by the IRNA news agency, the vessel was targeted for allegedly attempting an illegal passage through the straits, which resulted in a fire on board and the forced stoppage of the ship.

The incident follows a notification issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on the evening of September 17. UKMTO reported a maritime security incident occurring 16 nautical miles (approximately 30 kilometers) northeast of Khasab, Oman. While the British agency confirmed that the crew remained safe and there was no environmental damage, it did not identify the vessel involved by name. It remains unconfirmed if the UKMTO report directly pertains to the same tanker mentioned by the Iranian forces, though both accounts describe activities in the same geographic vicinity during the same timeframe.