Iran Guards say they stopped three tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that they stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway where the United States and Iran are competing for control.

In a statement quoted by Iranian state media, the Guards said the three tankers were trying to use a mined route south of the strait after being encouraged by the US military. The Guards said one tanker exploded and caught fire, after which the other two turned back. The statement did not say when the incident took place.

The Guards said the IRGC Navy controls the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any ship trying to pass without coordination with Iran would face the same outcome.

The report said Iran has struck tankers in recent weeks that used a route close to the Omani coast to cross the strait, in an effort to push vessels into Iranian waters and make them pay for safe passage.