US and Iran trade conflicting claims over burning oil tanker El Gaia in Gulf waters

Conflicting accounts of the tanker incident

On 14 September 2026, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the 180-metre oil tanker El Gaia had struck a naval mine in the southern waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media and the Fars news agency reported that the Panama-flagged vessel, which has a capacity of approximately 48,000 tonnes, caught fire after entering what Tehran designated as a prohibited zone. According to Iranian military statements, on-board firefighting efforts failed to contain the blaze. The Revolutionary Guard reiterated its warning that the southern passage is mined and closed, asserting that international shipping may only use northern lanes subject to Iranian security and transit fees.

Attempts to control the fire were unsuccessful and the entire tanker was engulfed in flames.

US and Indian responses to the claims

The United States Central Command dismissed the Iranian claim as false, stating that the vessel was not operating inside the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, El Gaia was disabled by an Iranian missile in August 2026 and suffered a secondary drone attack over the weekend while anchored off the coast of Oman, where a regional partner is now towing it. India's Ministry of External Affairs corroborated that an attack occurred off the Omani coastline, condemning strikes against commercial vessels and calling for immediate diplomatic de-escalation. India confirmed that 13 of the 14 Indian crew members aboard had been safely rescued, with Omani authorities assisting in the search for one missing sailor. Vessel tracking platforms VesselFinder and MarineTraffic previously placed the tanker near Sohar, Oman, about 200 kilometres from the Strait, on 5 and 8 September.

The false claim by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is another example of their lies and intimidation attempts while trying to prevent the transit of commercial vessels through the strait.

Shipping disruptions and maritime controls

The dispute follows months of confrontation since the war began on 28 February 2026, which disrupted a corridor that previously handled over 100 ships and roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil daily, representing around 20% of global oil and gas trade. Three weeks prior to the incident, US President Donald Trump stated that all naval mines in the waterway had been neutralized, but commercial shipping remains heavily restricted. Iran continues to monitor traffic from the Persian Gulf side, while the United States enforces a blockade of Iranian ports from the Gulf of Oman. According to tracking data reported by Reuters, 14 commercial vessels traversed the strait over the weekend, consisting of four exiting the Persian Gulf and ten entering.

Diplomatic statements and military supplies

Following the confrontation, Trump stated on Truth Social that Iran seeks rapid negotiations to resolve the conflict, adding that any US participation in talks remains conditional on his decision. Trump also argued that foreign nations benefiting from US maritime security operations in the Gulf should reimburse Washington for military expenditures once hostilities conclude. Meanwhile, the Pentagon Inspector General released its first evaluation of the conflict, reporting US munitions shortages and supply chain bottlenecks that have forced the Department of Defense to streamline procurement and build emergency stockpiles of critical components and ammunition.

The failing nation of Iran wants a deal quickly and at any cost.