Iran says 3 vessels catch fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday said that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz after vessels attempted to use what it called an unauthorized route. In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, the Revolutionary Guard said a large oil tanker struck a mine Wednesday night while attempting to pass through an “unauthorized route” south of the strait. The tanker caught fire and came to a halt, the statement said.

In a separate incident, another supertanker caught fire while leaving the route in the eastern part of the strait, it said. A tugboat approaching to help extinguish the blaze also caught fire, the statement added. The Revolutionary Guard also said that its navy's electronic warfare unit had "taken control of two Lucas-type aircraft" that it described as "intruding." The Revolutionary Guard claimed that its navy continued to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz.

It also accused the US of "encouraging vessels to violate restrictions and pass through a mined route," saying the resulting damage would "impose heavy insurance costs on US taxpayers and regional allies." The Revolutionary Guard warned that attempts to violate the rules governing passage through the strait would "lead to further financial losses and political setbacks for Washington." The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes, carrying significant volumes of oil and gas exports from Gulf countries to international markets.

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, before a ceasefire was reached in April. Fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed in July amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the war.