Hormuz: Iran says three oil tankers hit mines

Iran's navy and Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that three oil tankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran has restricted navigation.

The Revolutionary Guards' navy said two tankers had switched off radar and positioning systems and were trying to pass through an unauthorised route in the south of the waterway when they exploded and caught fire after hitting a naval mine. The Guards described one of the vessels as a supertanker.

Iran's conventional navy separately said another tanker east of the strait caught fire and was forced to stop after striking a naval mine in what it called an unsafe and prohibited zone. It said the vessel's tracking and identification systems were switched off.

The Iranian statements did not name the ships or give their origins.

Iran has required vessels to obtain authorisation to cross the strait since war with the United States began in February. The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and provides military support to tankers using the waterway.

Iran's armed forces have reported several ship fires or explosions in the strait in recent weeks, often saying vessels struck mines. The US military says it has cleared the main routes through the waterway of mines.