Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that two oil tankers had caught fire south of the Strait of Hormuz after striking naval mines that it said had been laid by its naval forces.

The IRGC accused the vessels of attempting to pass through what it described as an “illegal” shipping route and warned that ships failing to comply with its instructions would face consequences.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding maritime traffic through the strategically important strait.

In a related development, Tehran called on regional countries to establish a joint regional security mechanism free from external pressure.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Tehran was not currently engaged in nuclear negotiations with Washington, arguing that excessive U.S. demands were obstructing progress toward an agreement.