Iran Reports Seven Vessels Hit Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it struck four vessels in the northern Persian Gulf and that three others caught fire after hitting mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, making claims that could not be independently verified and that the U.S. military disputed. The IRGC Navy said Thursday that the four vessels had transferred oil between ships after taking a route Tehran considers unauthorized. It said the vessels were struck simultaneously. The force separately said the three other vessels were disabled and caught fire on Wednesday night after hitting mines. The U.S. Central Command rejected Iran’s account that tankers had hit mines. A spokesman said U.S. forces had cleared international waterways in the Strait of Hormuz of mines. The competing statements do not establish whether any specific vessel was damaged. The vessels’ identities, nationalities, the extent of any damage and crew status were not confirmed in the reports. International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the IMO could not guarantee that the established shipping route was clear of mines or safe to transit. He said Iran had communicated a temporary route but had not submitted it for...