Two oil tankers caught fire after striking sea mines in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Axar.az reports, citing the IRGC, that the vessels had switched off their navigation and Automatic Identification System (AIS) equipment and attempted to transit the strait secretly via an unauthorised route.

According to the statement, both tankers suffered explosions and fires after hitting the mines and are now under the control of the IRGC Navy.

The force also said the vessels had been observed returning towards the Persian Gulf after receiving warnings from the maritime traffic control centre.