Iran Claims Seven Vessels Hit Near Strait of Hormuz, Warns US

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says seven vessels were hit in or near the Strait of Hormuz and warned that continued US actions could prompt a wider response against American bases in the region. The claims have not been independently verified.

According to the IRGC account reported by Reuters, four vessels were struck and caught fire while transferring oil in the northern Persian Gulf. The force said three others were damaged after hitting mines west of the strait. It did not identify the vessels or report casualties in the accounts reviewed.

The United States disputed Iran’s account. President Donald Trump called the reported strikes fabricated, while a US Central Command spokesperson described Iran’s mine claims as incorrect and said international shipping lanes had been cleared.

The rival statements come amid heightened tensions over commercial shipping through the waterway. The IRGC warned that continued US efforts to help tankers transit routes it objects to could extend the conflict to US bases in the region.

The reported incidents would represent a major episode for shipping in the area if confirmed. However, the vessel count, causes of damage and details of any casualties remain uncertain based on the reports reviewed. The claims should not be treated as independently confirmed attacks.