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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claim that the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia had struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz
Attributed to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Multiple outlets independently reported that Iran's IRGC Navy did make this exact statement. Iranian state media Mehr News Agency reported the IRGC saying the tanker El Gaia (IMO 9325336, Panama-flagged) 'hit a naval mine in south of Hormuz Strait' on September 14. Israeli outlets Ynetnews and The Jerusalem Post, as well as a report on NationPress and IranWire, corroborate that the IRGC Navy issued this statement, framing the waterway as 'closed' and the route as 'illegal.' However, JPost and IranWire both report that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) publicly disputed the IRGC's mine-strike narrative, saying it was 'false' and that the tanker had actually been disabled by an Iranian missile strike (and later a drone strike) weeks earlier. A fact-check style article (news.meaww.com) also confirmed the IRGC did make this statement while noting it went viral online and lacked independent IRGC-provided evidence or imagery.
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Multiple independent outlets, including Iran's own state-run Mehr News Agency, consistently and directly quote the IRGC Navy making this specific claim about El Gaia striking naval mines, so the claim 'IRGC said this' is well-corroborated — though the underlying truth of the mine-strike itself is separately disputed by CENTCOM.
Independent, reputable sources corroborate (or refute) this claim directly.
Sep 18, 2026, 10:09 AM UTC
DisputedInitial assessment.
Oct 6, 2026, 9:31 AM UTC
ConfirmedMultiple independent outlets, including Iran's own state-run Mehr News Agency, consistently and directly quote the IRGC Navy making this specific claim about El Gaia striking naval mines, so the claim 'IRGC said this' is well-corroborated — though the underlying truth of the mine-strike itself is separately disputed by CENTCOM.
First observed Sep 18, 2026, 10:09 AM UTC · Last reviewed Oct 6, 2026, 9:31 AM UTC