Iran says three oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz as oil prices climb again

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Friday that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire while trying to use what it called unauthorized routes through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries much of the world's oil. The Guard said one of the ships, carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude, struck a naval mine, according to Iranian state media as reported by The Associated Press.

Reuters said it could not immediately verify the Guard's statement. Iran also said it had destroyed an unmanned U.S. vessel in the eastern part of the strait, and there was no immediate confirmation from the U.S. military.

In a separate incident, a small boat attached two limpet mines to the hull of a tanker on Thursday about 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, setting off a fire in the engine room and briefly disabling the ship, Reuters reported. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said the crew was safe, the fire was out and there was no environmental damage, and the ship continued to its next port. Maritime security sources identified it as the Panama-flagged Louise 1 and said it was the first successful limpet-mine strike in the waterway since the U.S. war with Iran began in February. It was not clear who was behind the attack.

Oil prices rose on the news. Brent crude for December was up 2.4% at $117.64 a barrel Friday, and U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate gained 2.3% to $104.36, CNBC reported. Both were on track for a fourth straight monthly gain, with WTI up more than 15% for October, as traders weighed the chance of renewed U.S.-Iran fighting after next week's midterm elections.