CENTCOM disputes IRGC claim of tanker mine strike in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday rejected an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) statement that the Panama‑flagged oil tanker El Gaia struck naval mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC had alleged that the vessel, carrying crude oil, suffered damage from mines laid in the strategic waterway, a claim that CENTCOM said was “unsubstantiated” and not supported by any evidence from U.S. surveillance assets monitoring the area.

The dispute comes amid heightened regional tensions and increased scrutiny of commercial shipping routes near Iran. CENTCOM emphasized that its forces continue to track maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and will respond to any credible threats to navigation. Both parties have yet to provide independent verification of the incident, and the situation remains under observation as authorities assess the safety of vessels passing through the narrow passage.