According to reports from state-run and regional media sources, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding an incident involving the oil tanker “El Gaia” in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Iranian Revolutionary Guards claim the vessel struck a sea mine and caught fire, while the United States military disputes the cause.
Conflicting Claims Over the Tanker “El Gaia” in the Strait of Hormuz
The state-run broadcaster IRIB, citing the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, reported that the oil tanker “El Gaia” was navigating the southern route of the strait when it hit a maritime mine and was engulfed in flames. The naval leadership of the Revolutionary Guards stated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and remains under their control, adding that prior warnings had been issued regarding the southern corridor. According to the same reports, the Iranian navy has mined the southern passage while designating a northern route along the Iranian coast as safe, and is levying transit fees for vessels using it.
In contrast, the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) rejected the Iranian account entirely. According to the U.S. military, the “El Gaia” was not struck by a newly detonated sea mine on the southern route. Instead, Centcom stated that the tanker was hit by an Iranian missile last month and subsequently targeted by a drone off the coast of Oman over the weekend. The U.S. military reported that the ship is currently disabled and is being towed by a regional partner.
Casualties and Crew Status Amid Gulf Escalation
Public reports indicate that a 14-member Indian crew was aboard the vessel at the time of the events. The Indian embassy in Oman announced that 13 of the Indian crew members were rescued during an operation on Sunday night. Search efforts remain ongoing for one additional crew member who is reported missing.
The security situation in the key waterway has drawn intense international scrutiny. Before the broader conflict, approximately one fifth of the global oil supply passed through the narrow passage, alongside exports of liquefied natural gas and fertilizer from Gulf states. Regional diplomatic channels have experienced immediate fallout; a scheduled foreign-minister meeting of Persian Gulf states to discuss the crisis was abruptly canceled following pressure from Saudi Arabia, which led to the postponement of a planned ministerial gathering between Gulf nations and Iran.
Market Impacts and Wider Regional Friction
New security incidents across the Middle East have driven oil prices sharply upward as shipping insurers and energy markets react to the contested conditions in the Gulf. At the same time, regional logistics face mounting pressure as authorities navigate disputed transit corridors and heightened military positioning. While Tehran asserts control over the closed southern sea-lanes, allied groups such as the Houthi movement continue to exert factual control over the Bab al-Mandab strait, compounding disruptions across critical maritime choke points for international trade.
Official updates regarding the towing operations of the “El Gaia” and subsequent diplomatic talks are expected as regional partners and international monitors assess the condition of the vessel and its crew.
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