Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents after allegedly attempting to pass through restricted and mined waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement issued by its Public Relations Office, the IRGC said its naval forces continued to exercise control over the management of the strategic waterway.

According to the statement, a large tanker attempting to use an allegedly illegal passage south of the Strait of Hormuz struck a mine and caught fire before coming to a halt.

In a separate incident, another supertanker attempting to leave the designated route in the eastern part of the strait also reportedly caught fire. A tugboat that approached the vessel to assist with firefighting operations subsequently caught fire as well.

The IRGC did not identify the vessels or provide details about their ownership, flags or the extent of the damage. The claims had not been independently verified at the time of publication.

The statement also said that members of the IRGC Navy's electronic warfare unit had safely brought down and taken control of two drones identified as Lucas-type unmanned aerial vehicles.

No further details were provided about where or when the drones were intercepted.

The IRGC accused Washington of encouraging vessels to navigate through mined waterways, arguing that such actions were imposing heavy insurance costs on American taxpayers and regional allies.

The statement also linked the incidents to the United States' frozen Iranian assets, arguing that Washington could have avoided further financial and political costs by releasing Iran's funds rather than encouraging vessels to challenge restrictions in the strait.

It warned that attempts to violate Iranian-imposed restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz would lead to further financial losses and political setbacks for the United States.

The IRGC also referred to an alleged humiliating defeat for Washington in the US midterm elections, although it provided no further explanation of the claim.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes, serving as a major passage for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway can have significant implications for international energy markets and maritime security. (ILKHA)