Iran Says Four Tankers Hit Mines Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and army said four tankers were damaged by mines in and near the Strait of Hormuz, but British maritime authorities reported separate vessel incidents without establishing that mines caused them. The Guards said three tankers exploded after striking mines on a southern route Tehran considers unauthorized during the 24 hours before its Thursday statement. The force alleged the ships had switched off navigation systems and ignored warnings. Iran’s army separately said a fourth tanker struck a mine east of the strait, caught fire and could no longer move. The vessels’ identities and flags were not provided in the statements. UK Maritime Trade Operations said it received a report of a tanker struck by an unidentified projectile while making an outbound transit. The agency reported no crew injuries or environmental impact at the time. It also received a report of a vessel on fire near Khasab, Oman. The cause of that fire was not established in the agency’s account, and the reports did not confirm whether either vessel was among those described by Iran. The incidents came amid opposing claims about the safety of shipping lanes. U.S. Central Command said...