Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy says three oil tankers hit sea mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, after the ships switched off their navigation and identification systems. The claim has not been independently verified, and no outside source has confirmed the ships, the explosions, or the damage. The IRGC has made similar statements before, saying vessels that try to cross what it calls unauthorised routes risk running into mines it says it laid. The strait carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil, so any claim of burning tankers there draws immediate global attention.

The announcement comes amid weeks of tension in the waterway. Iranian authorities say they have recorded at least 16 incidents involving ships and oil tankers since early October, including mine strikes, while the US military has said it demined the main transit routes. A British maritime monitor has also reported a separate vessel on fire, though it was not clear whether that ship was one of the three the IRGC mentioned. Key details are still missing, including the names of the tankers, their owners, whether anyone was hurt, and how bad the damage is. Until independent confirmation arrives, the big question is whether this is a real maritime disaster or another dramatic claim in an escalating standoff.