Iran's IRGC says four tankers exploded in Hormuz; Trump expects war to end soon

US President Donald Trump has said he expects the war involving Iran to end soon. Two separate outlets, Al Jazeera and TASS, carried the statement.

Al Jazeera quoted Trump as saying the war is "going to get wrapped up soon". The reports do not say where, when or in what setting he made the remarks. TASS's item consists only of a headline and a summary.

Nuclear guarantee

According to Al Jazeera, Trump also said Washington needs a guarantee that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. Al Jazeera quoted him as saying there must be a "guarantee there’ll never be a nuclear weapon". This part of his remarks appears only in the Al Jazeera report.

The reports do not give a timeline for ending the war. They do not describe any negotiations or terms beyond the nuclear guarantee.

Tanker claim in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says four oil tankers caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, the IRGC said the tankers were travelling along what it called "unauthorised routes".

This account comes from one origin only: an IRGC statement reported by Al Jazeera. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi include no independent confirmation from shipowners, flag states, maritime authorities or other governments.

The reports do not identify the four tankers. They do not give their flags, owners, cargo or exact locations. They do not say what caused the fires and explosions, or whether any party carried out an attack. They do not describe casualties, the status of crews, environmental damage or effects on shipping traffic.

The reports also do not explain what the IRGC means by "unauthorised routes", or on what authority it designates routes.

Al Jazeera's report is time-stamped 31 October 2026, 00:00 UTC. The exact timing of the tanker events is not specified.

What each side says

• IRGC: Four oil tankers caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz while travelling along what it called "unauthorised routes" (according to Al Jazeera).
• Donald Trump: The war will be over soon (according to Al Jazeera and TASS). Washington needs a guarantee that there will never be a nuclear weapon (according to Al Jazeera).

Analysis

The two developments are reported side by side but are not linked in the reports reviewed. Trump's remarks indicate he expects the war to end soon. However, no timeline, negotiations or terms beyond a nuclear guarantee are described. If the IRGC's tanker claim is independently confirmed, it could raise questions about shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz and about the IRGC's reference to "unauthorised routes". If it remains unconfirmed, its significance is harder to assess. Statements from shipowners, flag states or maritime authorities would help clarify what happened. Vocemundi takes no position on either party's claims.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.