US military rejects Iranian claim that Indian supertanker struck naval mine in Hormuz
The US military disputed Iranian claims that the Indian supertanker El Gaia hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, stating the disabled ship was struck by a drone off Oman.
Conflicting accounts over damaged tanker
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on 14 September 2026 that the Panama-flagged Indian supertanker El Gaia was engulfed in flames after striking a naval mine in the southern Strait of Hormuz. Iranian military officials stated that the vessel attempted to navigate a restricted zone, adding that onboard firefighting efforts failed to contain the blaze. The IRGC reiterated that the maritime corridor remains closed under its surveillance, having designated only a northern route along the Iranian coast as safe while demanding navigation fees. The United States Central Command rejected Tehran's account, calling it false disinformation designed to intimidate commercial vessels in the chokepoint. CENTCOM stated that the ship had already been disabled by an Iranian missile the previous month and was targeted again over the weekend by an Iranian drone off the coast of Oman, where a regional partner is towing the vessel.
The Strait of Hormuz is closed and remains under our intelligent control.
Crew rescue and diplomatic fallout
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned the strike against El Gaia off the Omani coast. Fourteen Indian nationals were on board the supertanker during the incident. Thirteen crew members were rescued through joint operations with Omani authorities, while search teams continue looking for one missing sailor. New Delhi demanded an immediate de-escalation of hostilities, an opening of diplomatic negotiations, and an end to attacks on commercial ships and civilian targets. A regional foreign ministers meeting of Persian Gulf countries scheduled for Monday to address shipping in the Strait was canceled on short notice.
- War begins and Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz
- Tanker El Gaia disabled by Iranian missile strike according to CENTCOM
- India condemns drone attack off Oman as 13 crew members are rescued
- IRGC reports tanker on fire from naval mine while CENTCOM reports ship being towed
Maritime transit disruption
Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruption since the war began on 28 February 2026, serving as a primary friction point between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Prior to the conflict, more than 100 ships crossed the corridor daily, carrying approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil and accounting for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply alongside fertilizer exports. Iranian forces maintain control of vessel movements from the Persian Gulf side, while the United States enforces a blockade of Iranian ports from the Gulf of Oman. Weekend commercial traffic dropped to 14 vessels, consisting of 10 ships entering the Persian Gulf and four exiting. Disruption across the regional energy network also affected Saudi Arabian infrastructure, where an attacked oil pipeline will remain largely out of service for several weeks of required repairs.
- Entering Persian Gulf
- 10 vessels
- Exiting Persian Gulf
- 4 vessels
Political standoff and negotiations
The confrontation follows statements made three weeks earlier by US President Donald Trump, who announced that all naval mines in the Strait had been cleared or detonated. Trump stated on Truth Social that crude oil continues to move through the waterway and argued that foreign nations must reimburse the United States once the conflict concludes.
The failing nation of Iran wants a deal quickly and at any cost.
Trump added that he will personally decide whether the United States participates in any future negotiations with Tehran. The dispute over transit fees and waterway access continues as Iran insists on charging commercial vessels entering the corridor.
