Iranians Scavenge Floating Cargo After Strait of Hormuz Ship Sinks

Hundreds of Iranians were seen scrambling for goods, including iPhones and French perfume, that were floating in the Strait of Hormuz after a container ship sank in the vital waterway. The incident occurred after the Singapore-flagged vessel, GFS Pride, reportedly struck a mine.

Footage from the scene shows men collecting items from numerous containers that were left adrift in the strait. According to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ship had sailed through an "unauthorised and dangerous" part of the waterway when it hit a mine. The GFS Pride sank after a fire erupted on board, but all 21 crew members were safely evacuated.

The vessel was carrying more than 2,500 containers on October 13. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore stated that the ship was struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A sister ship, the GFS Giselle, was also hit the following day, sustaining hull damage but managing to reach a safe anchorage.

One man in the footage is heard saying, "We are gathering and heading towards the Strait of Hormuz. We heard a container ship sank, so we're going to collect iPhones and perfume." The sinking follows reports that the U.S. Navy conducted a top-secret four-month mission to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces have reportedly placed mines in the crucial waterway, through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes, since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February. The International Maritime Organization estimated in June that approximately 80 mines had been laid in the strait.

In September, the Financial Times reported that U.S. Navy SEAL divers worked at night for four months to clear these mines, using inflatable boats and sonar technology. President Donald Trump had previously announced that "all mines" in the strait's international waters had been removed or detonated, declaring the waterway "American territory."