U.S. Rejects Iran’s Claim That Indian-Crewed Tanker Hit Mine, Says Iran Attacked Vessel

The United States has rejected Iran’s claim that the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military says Iran first hit the tanker with a missile last month and then attacked it with a drone over the weekend.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the missile strike left the tanker unable to operate. It said Iran later attacked El Gaia with a drone while the ship was in waters off Oman. The tanker is now being towed by a regional partner.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has given a different account. It said El Gaia entered a restricted route south of the Strait of Hormuz, hit naval mines and caught fire.

The two sides are talking about the same tanker that came under attack off Oman on Sept. 13. All 14 crew members were Indian nationals.

Thirteen have been rescued and one Indian crew member is still missing, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.

CENTCOM also accused the IRGC of making a false claim and said Iran was trying to stop commercial vessels from using the strait.

AIS tracking data shows El Gaia making port calls at Ras Laffan and Sohar into early September. The tanker was also travelling at normal speeds around that time.

Iran says the tanker hit a mine

The IRGC Navy said El Gaia, also known as Algaya, tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz using what it called a “forbidden” route south of the waterway.

The IRGC said the tanker had ignored earlier warnings.

It said the vessel then hit naval mines, exploded and caught fire. Attempts to put out the fire failed, and the tanker was engulfed in flames, according to the Iranian account.

Iran also repeated its claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and controlled by its naval forces.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority has published an updated list of 77 vessels it accuses of violating its protocols.

It has warned insurance companies, Protection and Indemnity clubs and classification societies not to provide services to ships on the list.

The authority also warned these service providers about possible consequences if they deal with the listed vessels.

IRGC says it targeted US unmanned vessel

Earlier this month, the IRGC said it had targeted a US unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

It identified the vessel as a Saildrone Explorer-type USV and said it was carrying out an “aggressive mission”.

The IRGC has continued to say that the waterway is closed and under Iranian control. It has also warned that hostile vessels operating there could be targeted.

Iran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

US forces, meanwhile, imposed a naval blockade targeting vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.

References: thestatesman, gulfnews