Iran says naval mines destroyed four tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Four oil tankers were destroyed by naval sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday, with two vessels still burning and two additional tankers seized. The IRGC claimed the ships hit mines while attempting to cross a prohibited southern route, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency. The claim, unverified by the BBC, follows US military strikes on Iran and comes as US voters punished Republicans in midterm elections. Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the election results showed Americans rejected war, warning Washington against betraying public will. The conflict, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes in February, has stalled peace talks, with Iran demanding US agreement to its seven-step plan to reopen the strait.