Iran says two tankers and a tugboat caught fire in Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the Guard said a large tanker struck a mine on Wednesday night while trying to pass through what it called an unauthorized route in the southern part of the strait. The ship caught fire and came to a stop, according to the statement.

The Guard said a second supertanker caught fire while leaving the area in the eastern part of the strait, and that a tugboat that approached to help put out the blaze also caught fire.

Iran did not name the vessels or say whether anyone was hurt. The claims could not be independently confirmed, and there was no immediate word from the ships' owners.

The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important routes for oil and gas. Shipping there has been heavily disrupted since the war between Iran and the United States and Israel began in February, and Iran has warned ships to use routes it approves.

The reported incidents came a day after oil prices fell sharply on hopes that the U.S. election results would speed up efforts to end the war. This is a developing story.