Tehran:Two oil tankers caught fire Thursday after striking naval mines in restricted waters east of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's army stated. The incident was reported by the Iranian broadcaster IRIB.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the army's public relations department mentioned that the vessels had entered a prohibited and unsafe area on Thursday afternoon despite receiving warnings and after deactivating their radar systems.

The Iranian army attributed primary responsibility for the incident to US President Donald Trump, also accusing the tankers' owners of relying on what were described as misleading statements from Washington. The statement did not disclose the tankers’ identities, their flags, or the extent of the damage incurred. No independent confirmation of the incident has emerged immediately.

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial shipping lane linking the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and has experienced repeated disruptions since the US-Israeli military offensive against Iran commenced on February 28. Iran has previously reported similar incidents involving commercial vessels entering restricted waters, as tensions over maritime access and the US naval blockade continue to be focal points in diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington.