DUBAI, October 30 (Aalimi Nation) – Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that has not been independently confirmed. A maritime security body separately reported a burning vessel and a projectile strike on a tanker in the same area, without saying whether the incidents were linked.

The IRGC said three oil tankers "exploded and caught fire" after striking mines while using what it called an unauthorised southern route in the past 24 hours. It said the ships had switched off their radar and navigation systems, ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy, and that their owners and crews were responsible.

Later, Iran's navy said four tankers had struck sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with one of them in the eastern part of the waterway. It said one damaged tanker was burning east of the strait and could not continue, and that the strait was closed to "violating vessels".

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said a tanker completing an outbound transit was hit by an unknown projectile at about 1600 GMT on Wednesday, near Khasab in Oman. No injuries or environmental impact were reported at first, and the weapon and the party responsible were not identified.

In a separate notice, UKMTO said a vessel was seen on fire about nine nautical miles north of Khasab. It gave no cause and no information on the crew, and it was not clear whether this was one of the vessels named by Iran.

A disputed mine-clearing claim

The claim comes a day after the US military repeated that mines on the main transit routes had been cleared. US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said the primary shipping lanes are free of mines, and it said on Sunday that it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the strait since the summer.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi rejected that position, saying CENTCOM must offer "independent evidence, not statements!" The IRGC maintains that the southern route near the Omani coast is mined, while the US has urged shippers to use it. Iran says only northern routes that it authorises may be used.

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption. Iran has sharply restricted traffic through it since the conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes, and the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.

The shipping reports come as contacts between Tehran and Washington continue through intermediaries. Iranian media reported that Tehran had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, sent via Qatari mediators to Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei, but had not yet responded. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was discussing a plan with mediators Qatar and Pakistan.

The number of vessels involved, the cause of each incident and the location of the fires remain unconfirmed. Maritime authorities are expected to issue further advisories, and CENTCOM has not yet issued a statement on the latest Iranian claims.