CENTCOM Nails Yet Another Iranian Lie on Hormuz Control, Ship Sinking and US Military Deaths

WASHINGTON, Oct 16: US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday rejected three claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz, the sinking of a Singapore-flagged container ship and the deaths of US service members in Jordan.

“The United States and regional partners control the strait as commercial vessels continue to transit despite unwarranted IRGC aggression,” CENTCOM said, rejecting the IRGC’s assertion that it controlled the strategic waterway.

CENTCOM also disputed the IRGC’s account of the sinking of the M/V GFS Pride, saying the Singapore-flagged vessel was struck by an IRGC projectile rather than a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

According to CENTCOM, the ship sank while being towed toward shore. The command added that more than 40 commercial vessels had transited the strait over the preceding 24 hours.

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority separately reported that the GFS Pride had been struck by an unknown projectile before sinking. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

CENTCOM also rejected the IRGC’s claim that it had killed hundreds of US service members in Jordan.

“Three American service members were killed in action in July as partner forces defended against Iranian attacks,” CENTCOM said.

The competing statements come amid heightened tensions over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route for global energy supplies. The accounts of the ship’s sinking and the claims concerning military casualties remain disputed by the parties.