Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy says a tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) struck a naval mine and suffered an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, in the latest incident in the vital waterway for global energy shipping.

Reuters reported that the Guards said the vessel was using what they described as an "unauthorised and dangerous route", citing Iranian state media. No details about the tanker were immediately available, including its name, flag, crew or the extent of any damage.

Iranian media reported on Thursday that four oil tankers had been hit by explosions in the strait, saying the vessels had ignored warnings and entered areas Iran considers restricted. That account has not been independently verified.

Shipping attacks continue despite hopes of calm

At least 10 ships were hit in the first 10 days of November, after 37 attacks in October, the highest monthly tally since the conflict began in late February, according to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy cited by Reuters.

Tankers are still facing attacks across the strait despite a rebound in traffic and expectations of a de-escalation in the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, expectations that have been reflected in falling oil prices, Reuters reported.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and carries a large share of the world's seaborne oil and gas. Any disruption there can quickly affect energy prices and shipping costs.

Iran has sought to restrict shipping through the strait during the conflict, while the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. With no independent confirmation of the latest incident and no details of the vessel involved, the scale of Friday's explosion remains unclear.