Iran says 3 tankers caught fire in Hormuz

Three oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the Revolutionary Guards. This follows Tehran's restriction of traffic through the waterway since the beginning of the Iran war in late February, requiring vessels to use routes authorized by the Islamic republic. The US has responded by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports and assisting tankers to navigate the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil consumption.

The Guards reported that three non-compliant tankers exploded and caught fire while sailing in the illegal channel of the Strait of Hormuz. They did not specify the names or nationalities of the tankers. Earlier on Sunday, the British maritime agency UKMTO reported that a tanker had caught fire in the strait off the coast of Khasab, Oman, a day earlier. Military authorities stated that the tanker was on fire, leading to the evacuation of the crew. Another tanker was struck by an unknown projectile on Saturday.

Emirati state media claimed that 22 people were rescued from a burning vessel in the Gulf of Oman and were in stable condition. However, it was uncertain if the various reports referred to the same incidents. Tehran had previously announced multiple times that ships had caught fire in the Hormuz Strait. US Central Command stated earlier this month that it had facilitated the export of 1.5 billion barrels of oil through Hormuz since the summer, and recently reported that all mines had been cleared from the waterway.

Separately, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported sounds of explosions heard in various parts of the country, including Qeshm, Sirik, Jask, and Bandar Abbas. The cause of these sounds remained unknown. Officials confirmed an impact in the port city of Jask. The US President, Donald Trump, had previously discussed the possibility of resuming heavy strikes on Iran, but later retreated from this idea. Despite this, the US military has conducted occasional limited strikes.