Three Hormuz tankers catch fire, Iran says

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said three oil tankers exploded and caught fire on Sunday while sailing through what they called an illegal channel in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Guards said the tankers were “non-compliant” but did not name them or give their nationalities. Iran has severely restricted traffic through the strategic waterway since the Iran war began in late February, insisting vessels use routes authorised by Tehran.

British maritime agency UKMTO also reported that a tanker had caught fire in the strait off Khasab, Oman, on Saturday and said the crew had been evacuated. UKMTO separately reported another tanker struck by an “unknown projectile” on Saturday.

Emirati state media said Sunday that 22 people had been rescued from a burning vessel in the Gulf of Oman and were in stable condition. AFP said it could not confirm whether the various reports referred to the same incidents.

The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and helped tankers travel through Hormuz, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption. US Central Command said last month that it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer and has recently said all mines have been cleared from the waterway.

Iranian state news agency IRNA separately reported late Saturday that sounds resembling explosions were heard in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas, and said officials confirmed an “impact” in the port city of Jask. IRNA said the cause of the sounds remained unknown.

US President Donald Trump previously raised the possibility of resuming heavy strikes on Iran but has since walked back from the idea. The US military has conducted occasional limited strikes.