IRGC Claims Four Oil-Carrying Ships Hit in Northern Persian Gulf

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claimed on October 22 that four ships were hit and burning during oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf. It accused them of previously using an unauthorized route. Separately, it claimed three ships struck mines west of Hormuz overnight, caught fire and stopped. The force threatened U.S. bases if Washington kept encouraging passage through a mined route, without identifying any vessels or casualties. In late August, the White House said Iranian mines had been cleared from international shipping lanes and nearly 1,500 vessels had passed under U.S. protection.