Iran's IRGC Navy now says a third tanker has exploded and caught fire after hitting a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday 10 November. The claim has not been independently verified, and there has been no US confirmation.
The IRGC earlier said two unnamed tankers were left burning near Khasab, Oman, one of them after striking a mine.
In a statement on its Telegram channel, carried by state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC Navy said the third vessel was on a route Iran has not authorised in the eastern part of the strait. TASS quotes the statement as saying:
"A third tanker that violated the rules by taking a route not authorized [by Iran] through the Strait of Hormuz struck a sea mine this afternoon"
The IRGC also says the destruction of US coastal radar and navigation aids south of the strait has increased the risks for tankers using unauthorised routes, Anadolu reports. That claim has not been independently checked.
No vessel name, flag or information on casualties has been given. The mine claims run against a recent US military statement that all mines had been cleared from the waterway.