Iran says three tankers hit mines and caught fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran reported that three oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after hitting mines, according to the Revolutionary Guards, which said the vessels were sailing an unauthorized route. The incident escalates tensions in the strategic waterway, which carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption. The Revolutionary Guards did not identify the tankers' names or nationalities. British maritime agency UKMTO separately reported a tanker fire off Oman's coast and another vessel struck by an unknown projectile on Saturday, while Emirati state media said 22 people were rescued from a burning ship in the Gulf of Oman. Since the Iran war began in late February, Tehran has restricted traffic through the strait, prompting a US naval blockade and assistance to tankers. US Central Command said it helped export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since summer and claimed all mines were cleared, contradicting Iran's report.