Iran Says Tankers Caught Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said three oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after using routes it described as unauthorized, including a supertanker that it said struck a mine while carrying about 2 million barrels of crude. The claims have not been independently verified. The Iranian naval force said the vessels ignored warnings to avoid restricted passages. It alleged that two tankers had switched off their navigation and identification systems. Iranian reports did not identify the ships or provide details about their crews. In a later statement reported on October 31, the Guards said a fourth tanker, carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude, struck a mine and caught fire while attempting to leave through an unauthorized southern route. That account also came from the Iranian military and has not been independently confirmed. Separate vessel incidents were reported by maritime and Omani authorities. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile south of Lavan Island, setting off a fire on board. It reported that the crew was safe and that there was no environmental impact. The reports do...