Middle East latest: IRGC says two oil tankers caught fire after hitting sea mines in Hormuz

The Iranian navy and Revolutionary Guards reported on Saturday that fires erupted on a total of three oil tankers after they struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz, an area where Tehran has imposed strict navigation controls. Tehran has been demanding that vessels obtain its authorization to cross the strait since the conflict with the United States began in February, and has targeted ships that defy its orders.

Earlier, two oil tankers that had disabled their radar and positioning systems, attempting to navigate unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz, exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines, according to the Guards' navy. A separate statement from Iran's conventional navy stated that another tanker navigating through the hazardous and forbidden zone east of the Strait of Hormuz, with its tracking and identification systems turned off, also ignited and was compelled to halt after colliding with a naval mine.

The statements did not disclose the names or origins of the vessels, but the Guards claimed that one of the ships hit in southern Hormuz was a supertanker. The United States has enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's blockage of the crucial trade route and is providing military support to tankers utilising the waterway.

Iran's armed forces have reported several fires or explosions on ships in the strait in recent weeks, frequently claiming the vessels struck mines. The Guards shared footage on Friday of a significant smoke plume emanating from a vessel they said was transporting liquefied gas and hit a mine in the strait's southern region. However, the US military asserts it has cleared the main passages through the waterway of mines.