Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy says three tankers caught fire after hitting mines

A separate vessel was reported on fire off Khasab on Wednesday, October 28, and the US military says the main transit routes are clear of mines.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy says three tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the last 24 hours. The incidents were off the southern coast of the Strait of Hormuz.

A separate vessel was reported on fire off Khasab, in the strait, on Wednesday, October 28.

US Central Command says US forces have cleared all internationally recognized primary transit routes through the strait of sea mines, and that the routes remain clear. Iran rejected Washington's seven-day Hormuz plan on October 28, calling its terms "unacceptable demands". Talks to reopen the strait have stalled. Iranian state TV says the US blockade of Iran must be lifted first. Mediators and Iran are discussing a Turkey meeting before November 4, Al Arabiya reports. Vice President Vance has reached out to an Iranian hard-liner in a bid to restart talks, the Wall Street Journal reports. Axios reports that US and Israeli officials expect a week-long bombing of Iran if no deal is reached.

The Gulf premium has fallen from $34 to about $6 a barrel. Saudi shipping volume in October nearly matched September. Iran's Foreign Minister says the US blockade has cut Iran's imports by 25 per cent. Qatari mediators have put a new draft deal to Iran.

The claim comes days after Iran rejected the US plan, while a Turkey meeting before November 4 is reportedly being arranged. It adds to the dispute over whose account of conditions in the strait is accurate. Earlier isolated fire and mine reports in the same corridor have not dented Saudi export volumes, which held near September levels through October while the Gulf crude premium fell from $34 to about $6 a barrel. On the evidence so far, the claim reads as another round in the dispute over the strait rather than a new break in oil flows.