Iranian fishermen in the Strait of Hormuz have pulled an expensive catch from the water after a cargo ship sank and left its goods floating in the waterway. Footage circulating on social media shows packets of perfume bottles and iPhone boxes floating near the sunken vessel as people fish them out of the water.
Ship Sunk After Mine Strike
A UAE-owned cargo ship sank in the strait on Wednesday after being hit by a mine. The incident comes as several commercial vessels have been attacked in the region since the war broke out.
The ship is one of many affected by Iran's chokehold on the critical shipping route. The strait has been a point of contention since February when the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites.
Retaliation and Closure of the Strait
Iran retaliated by striking sites across the Middle East and closing the Strait of Hormuz, planting mines and choking access through the waterway.
It has been reported that the Singapore-flagged container ship, GFS Pride, was carrying the items from Dubai when it caught fire and sank this week after being hit by a projectile.
Crew Evacuated and Dispute Over Cause
The 21 crew members onboard were safely evacuated, according to Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority.
Iran's IRGC reportedly said the cargo ship sank after hitting a naval mine. It claimed the vessel was travelling along what it described as an unauthorised route through the strait.
Maritime officials, however, reported that the vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile, leaving the precise circumstances of the sinking disputed.
