Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were simultaneously hit and caught fire after being tracked by its forces on Wednesday, Reuters reported from Dubai. This is the IRGC's own claim, reported as such; it has not been independently verified.

Source: Reuters

The IRGC added that three more vessels collided with mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, and warned the US military that continued provocations could lead to a wider response against its regional bases, Reuters reported. Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), carried the IRGC statement, which said the four ships had previously crossed an "illegal route" despite warnings to the maritime companies operating them, and were discovered transferring oil cargoes in the middle of the northern Persian Gulf when they were hit, according to NewKerala's report of the IRIB statement.

The IRGC statement did not identify the vessels and reported no casualties, NewKerala reported. The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is the world's most important oil shipping chokepoint, and any disruption there affects fuel prices and shipping for countries including India, whose workers and traders depend heavily on Gulf routes.

Warning to Washington

The IRGC Navy reiterated its control over the strait and said its personnel continued to manage maritime movement, according to the IRIB statement reported by NewKerala. The statement came as US President Donald Trump said Washington is not negotiating with Tehran, a position also noted in live Middle East coverage by AnewZ, which reported that the US and Israel were developing plans for possible renewed strikes on Iran — a report Awaaz Punjab attributes to that coverage and has not independently confirmed.