US Central Command Rejects Iranian Claims After Ship Sinks
United States Central Command disputed Iranian claims regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz following the sinking of the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected three claims made by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) concerning military developments in the Middle East. CENTCOM disputed assertions that Iranian forces control the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the U.S. and regional partners maintain control and that commercial traffic continues. The command also dismissed IRGC claims that Iranian attacks killed hundreds of American personnel in Jordan, clarifying that only three service members were killed in action in July.
These disputes follow the October 13 sinking of the GFS Pride, a Singapore-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. While the IRGC claimed the vessel hit a naval mine on an unauthorized route, CENTCOM asserted the ship was struck by a projectile fired by Iranian forces. The UK Maritime Trade Operations similarly attributed the loss to an unidentified projectile. The incident occurred during the most volatile day for shipping in the strait since the war began on February 28, with four separate warnings issued for attacks on tankers and container ships.
Since July 14, the U.S. has enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports and recently destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow in the Gulf of Oman. While Iran is negotiating a temporary shipping corridor with Oman and targeting commercial vessels, some reports indicate Middle East crude exports have risen above pre-war levels due to U.S. naval protection. Meanwhile, Iran faces severe internal economic pressure and foreign currency rationing.
