Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has claimed that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly striking naval mines.

According to a statement carried by Iranian state media, the vessels were attempting to pass through the strategically significant waterway without coordinating with Iranian authorities. The IRGC further alleged that both ships had switched off their radar and positioning systems during the transit.

The naval force stated: "An hour ago, two oil tankers, which were secretly attempting to transit the unauthorised Strait of Hormuz with their radar and positioning systems turned off, exploded and caught fire after hitting a naval mine."

Iran said one of the affected vessels was a super-tanker. The IRGC claimed the blaze was so intense that its flames illuminated the southern shores of the Strait of Hormuz during the night.

The organisation subsequently warned shipping owners and maritime companies against attempting to navigate the waterway without first coordinating with its Traffic Control Centre and complying with Iranian arrangements governing passage through the strait.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints for global energy supplies.

The tanker explosions were reported shortly after another confrontation involving Iran and the United States. The IRGC Aerospace Force claimed it had destroyed a US military early-warning radar installation in Bahrain in retaliation for what Tehran described as an American aerial attack on a telecommunications tower in Iran's Sirik region.

Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the radar was allegedly targeted around an hour after the attack on the telecommunications infrastructure.

In a strongly worded statement, the IRGC Aerospace Force said: "The destruction of a US radar in Bahrain was a serious warning to the aggressor enemy to end its aerial provocations and oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz. If the enemy repeats its violations and acts of aggression, the IRGC Aerospace Force is on full alert to respond without limits."

However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected Iran's account of events. According to CENTCOM, Iran launched two one-way attack drones towards Bahrain, but both were intercepted and destroyed by US forces before reaching their intended target.

CENTCOM stated: "CLAIM: Today, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it attacked a 'U.S. early-warning radar' in Bahrain. FACT: The IRGC launched two one-way attack drones toward Bahrain and both were shot down by U.S. forces. There were no injuries or damage."

The conflicting accounts highlight the growing volatility in the region, where military, maritime and energy-security concerns are increasingly intertwined around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for international oil shipments.

Agencies