Iran's IRGC says two tankers and tugboat caught fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday that two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, the Revolutionary Guard said a large oil tanker struck a mine Wednesday night while attempting to pass through an “unauthorised route” south of the strait.

The tanker caught fire and stopped, the statement said.

In a separate incident, another supertanker caught fire while leaving the route in the eastern part of the strait, it said.

A tugboat approaching to help extinguish the blaze also caught fire, the statement added.

Read: Americans said no to war, and we endorse this message: Iran's Ghalibaf

The Revolutionary Guard also said that its navy's electronic warfare unit had "taken control of two Lucas-type aircraft" that it described as "intruding."

The Revolutionary Guard claimed that its navy continued to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz.

It also accused the US of "encouraging vessels to violate restrictions and pass through a mined route," saying the resulting damage would "impose heavy insurance costs on US taxpayers and regional allies."

The Revolutionary Guard warned that attempts to violate the rules governing passage through the strait would "lead to further financial losses and political setbacks for Washington."

US sanctions individuals, entities over alleged efforts to supply Iran with air defence systems

The US on Wednesday sanctioned two individuals and one entity accused of helping Iran obtain man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS).

The State Department said the designations “close off more of the channels Tehran uses to try to rebuild its arsenal and raise the risk for third-country brokers and suppliers.”

The department identified the targets as Mohammed Ali Tolibov, the CEO of Belarus-based Armoury Alliance; Nigeria-based Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited; and Russia-based Alisher Domullodzhanov.

Read more: Trump says Iran war worth it despite midterm elections losses

The department alleged that the network sought to facilitate the procurement of Chinese-origin MANPADS for Iran, including through the use of false end-users.

“The United States will keep exposing the networks that arm Iran’s military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and will keep denying the regime the resources that sustain its destabilising activities,” it said.