Striking visuals showing iPhones and luxury perfume bottles floating in the Strait of Hormuz have surfaced after Iran reported that a UAE-owned cargo ship sank following a naval mine strike amid a spate of commercial vessel attacks in the region. The footage emerged days after US forces destroyed an Iranian-affiliated vessel in the Gulf of Oman, accusing it of conducting surveillance and targeting US Navy ships.
The viral video shows packets of perfume bottles and iPhone boxes floating in the sea near the sunken cargo ship, with individuals in small boats picking up the goods from the water. Initial reports indicate the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride was transporting the merchandise from Dubai before it went down.
GFS Pride sank after being struck by a projectile and catching fire, according to maritime officials, who noted that all 21 crew members were safely evacuated without injury. Reports indicate the vessel was carrying around 2,500 containers, including luxury perfumes and consumer electronics, which scattered across the water after the sinking.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the cargo ship sank after hitting a naval mine while traveling along an unauthorized route through the strait. However, other maritime officials reported that the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile, leaving the precise cause disputed.
The sinking coincides with escalating regional tensions involving Iran and the US. In a separate event, US forces struck an Iranian dhow after determining it was conducting surveillance and targeting US Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman, though the crew was safely removed prior to the vessel's destruction.
In another recent incident, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier, Cape Dao, sank near the Strait of Hormuz weeks after being hit by a projectile, resulting in one crew fatality before the remaining personnel were evacuated.
These events reflect a sharp rise in attacks on commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Maritime authorities reported multiple incidents, including drone strikes targeting tankers and other commercial vessels in the area over a short span.
Attacks on commercial vessels have intensified as Iran escalates strikes in response to tougher sanctions and a naval blockade of its ports. Tehran has sought to tighten control over the strategic waterway by restricting maritime traffic, raising international concerns over the security of global energy shipments passing through the corridor.