Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says three oil tankers caught fire after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Footage released by Tehran shows thick smoke rising over the critical shipping lane, but the claims have not been verified by international maritime authorities. According to Iranian state media, the tankers tried to use what the IRGC calls an unauthorized route, ignored warnings, and switched off their radar and navigation systems. The IRGC has said one of the vessels was carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, though the ships' identities and any casualties have not been independently confirmed.

The claim directly challenges US assurances that the main shipping lanes through the strait have been cleared of mines. An IRGC spokesman has demanded that Washington "prove" its claim with independent evidence, not just a statement. The strait carries a large share of the world's oil, so any real attack on tankers there can shake energy markets and raise prices quickly. Iran has made similar claims several times in recent months, which leaves big questions about what really happened, which ships were involved, and how close the crisis is to getting worse.