Iranians Scavenge Luxury Goods from Sunken Ship in Strait of Hormuz

Hundreds of Iranians were observed collecting luxury goods, including iPhones and French perfume, from containers that floated in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship sank. Footage revealed individuals scrambling for the scattered merchandise in the vital waterway.

The Singapore-flagged vessel, GFS Pride, sank on October 13 after a mine explosion and subsequent blaze, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC stated the ship had navigated through an "unauthorised and dangerous" section of the strait. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated.

The ship was carrying over 2,500 containers when it was struck by unknown projectiles. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed the incident. The GFS Pride's sister ship, GFS Giselle, sustained hull damage the following day but managed to reach a safe anchorage.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. In September, it was reported that U.S. Navy SEAL divers had conducted a four-month covert operation to clear mines from the strait. These mines were allegedly placed by Iranian forces following attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel in February. In total, an estimated 80 mines were reportedly placed in the strait by June, according to the International Maritime Organization.

President Donald Trump had previously declared the waterway an "American territory" after announcing that "all mines" in its international waters had been removed or detonated. The Financial Times reported in September that Navy SEAL divers used inflatable crafts and sonar equipment during nighttime operations to locate and clear the mines from the strait's seabed.