Iran's Revolutionary Guards say four tankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz

The Guards said the vessels had switched off their navigation systems, used unauthorized routes and ignored radio warnings, but Iran did not identify the ships, ABC News (Australia) and AP reported. Oman said it evacuated 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged tanker that caught fire off its Musandam coast; it was unclear whether that ship was one of those Iran described.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre separately reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile and that its crew was safe, according to ABC.

Why it matters: The strait is a key route for world oil shipments, and the incidents come as Qatar tries to mediate between Iran and the US ahead of the US midterm elections.