Guard Corps said, in the latest escalation around the strategic waterway. The Guards said the three "non-compliant tankers exploded and caught fire" in the early hours while sailing in what Tehran describes as an illegal channel. It did not give the names or nationalities of the vessels. Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, Tehran has severely restricted traffic through the strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption, insisting vessels use routes authorised by the Islamic republic. In response, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and escorted tankers through the waterway. US Central Command said last month it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer and recently said all mines had been cleared from the channel. Separately on Sunday, the British maritime agency UKMTO reported that a tanker had caught fire in the strait off Khasab, Oman, forcing the evacuation of its crew, and that another tanker had been struck by an "unknown projectile" on Saturday. Emirati state media said 22 people had been rescued from a burning vessel in the Gulf of Oman and were in stable condition. AFP said it was unable to confirm whether the various reports referred to the same incidents, noting Tehran has made multiple similar announcements in recent weeks. Iranian state news agency IRNA also reported Saturday that explosion-like sounds were heard in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas, with officials confirming an "impact" in the port city of Jask. While US President Donald Trump had previously raised the possibility of resuming heavy strikes on Iran, he has since walked back the idea, although the US military has conducted occasional limited strikes. (Bssnews)