Oil tanker ‘on fire’ in Strait of Hormuz just hours after container ship sinks, claim Iran’s army

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Iran’s army has said a "violating" oil tanker is on fire towards the eastern section of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from state media on Thursday. An army statement claimed the “rogue tanker” disabled its tracking systems and was attempting to pass through the restricted area in the Gulf of Oman. The incident follows new images of a ship reportedly carrying over 2,500 containers sinking after it hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The GFS Pride, a small Singapore -flagged container vessel with capacity for 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), sank while sailing through the shipping route, sources told Reuters. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy previously said the vessel attempted to transit an “unauthorised and dangerous” route, before catching fire after hitting the naval mine. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of an incident where a container ship was struck by an unknown projectile - although it is currently unclear whether the two incidents are linked. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) following the incident. open image in gallery Containers and items float in the water a vessel sank near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, in this still image obtained from a social media video, released October 14, 2026. ( Social media ) It marks the second vessel to sink since the US- Iran war began on February 28, according to data from UN shipping agency, the International Maritime Organisation. Attacks around the waterway have surged over the past 10 days as there appears to be no end in sight amid deadlocked talks. In new images that have been released since, the container is seen with its doors open and goods pouring out into the water. They appear to show small packages and rectangular boxes floating in the water. People appear to be crowding around the vessel as they are surrounded by smaller vessels presumably used for evacuation purposes. open image in gallery A satellite image shows containers and items floating in the water after a vessel sank near the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman, October 14, 2026 ( European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2 ) Oil prices have continued to surge and remain high at over $100 a barrel as Donald Trump attempts to secure diesel imports through a new deal with Russia . "MPA is deeply concerned about the continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the Singapore authority said. "Such attacks are unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law." In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao was reported to be sinking close to the strait after being struck by a projectile on September 23, sources added. open image in gallery A container floats in the water a vessel sank near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, in this still image obtained from a social media video, released October 14, 2026. ( Social media ) open image in gallery Containers float in the water after a vessel sank near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, in this still image obtained from a social media video, released October 14, 2026. ( Social media ) “The Antigua & Barbuda flagged bulk carrier CAPE DAO, originally hit on the 23 September, is reported to be sinking after an unsuccessful rescue attempt,” British maritime risk management group Vanguard said in a statement on Wednesday. Before the war, around 125 to 140 large commercial vessels including oil tankers, gas carriers, bunkers and container ships passed through the waterway every day. A fifth of global oil and seaborne gas was transported through the vital shipping route. This effectively came to a standstill on 28 February, when the US and Israel launched coordinated military airstrikes across Iran.