--- title: "Hundreds of Fishermen Flock to Strait of Hormuz for iPhones and Perfume After GFS Pride Container Ship Sinks" description: "Following the sinking of the container ship GFS Pride in the Strait of Hormuz, hundreds of Iranian fishermen took to the sea for surfaced iPhones and perfume. The parties disagree on the causes of the accident." date: 2026-10-17T07:58:20.107Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fishermen-hormuz-strait-iphones-gfs-pride tags: [strait-of-hormuz, iran, shipping, container-ship, maritime-security, iphone] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Hundreds of Fishermen Flock to Strait of Hormuz for iPhones and Perfume After GFS Pride Container Ship Sinks ![Sunken containers and parts of the GFS Pride vessel in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/17/rybaki-ormuzskiy-proliv-ayfony-gfs-pride/rybaki-ormuzskiy-proliv-ayfony-gfs-pride-1.webp) ## Key Points - The container ship GFS Pride carrying over 2,500 containers sank in the Strait of Hormuz on October 14, 2026; all 21 crew members were evacuated. - Hundreds of Iranian fishermen went to sea to collect surfaced cargo, including boxes of iPhone 18 smartphones and French perfume. - Singaporean authorities point to a fire as the cause, while the Iranian military cites a mine explosion; the vessel became the second to sink within a day. - On October 16, Iran stated the strait would only be opened if US troops are withdrawn from the region. On October 14, 2026, the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, carrying over 2,500 containers, sank in the Strait of Hormuz. The very next day, hundreds of Iranian fishermen took to the sea to collect cargo that had surfaced from the water — ranging from smartphones and perfumes to industrial goods. Social media footage emerged showing dozens of small boats moving between partially submerged containers as fishermen hauled boxes out of the water; one video captures a boat towing an entire container. ### The "Hunt" for iPhones and French Perfume According to eyewitness reports, boxes containing smartphones were found on one of the boats; a source indicated that these were Apple's newest iPhone 18 models. In addition to electronics, fishermen collected French perfumes and other floating goods. Iranian forces, in turn, warned local fishermen to exercise caution when handling the containers, noting they could collide with boats or unexpectedly sink beneath the water. ### Two Versions of the Sinking Cause The parties describe the causes of the accident differently. Singaporean authorities stated that a fire broke out on the ship prior to the sinking and confirmed that all 21 crew members were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran reported that the vessel entered an "unauthorized and dangerous" shipping channel, after which it struck a mine, caught fire, and sank. Thus, both sides confirm the fire and the loss of the vessel, but disagree on the root cause of the incident. ### Second Sinking Within 24 Hours The GFS Pride became the second sunken ship in the past 24 hours and the third registered incident since the regional conflict began in late February 2026. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in attacks on maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening commercial shipping and global supply chains. The strait remains one of the world's most critical routes for energy transportation, and every such incident increases pressure on global markets. ### Geopolitical Background: The Strait as a Bargaining Chip Amid the series of incidents, Iran stated on October 16 that the Strait of Hormuz would only be reopened on the condition that US troops are withdrawn from the region. Concurrently, statements emerged from the US regarding the imposition of a blockade and the intention to declare the strait United States territory. The opposing positions of the parties make the status of the strait one of the key elements of the ongoing confrontation. ## Accounts differ ### Cause of the GFS Pride container ship sinking - **Singaporean Authorities:** A fire broke out on the ship prior to the sinking; all 21 crew members were safely evacuated with no injuries. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/ngu-dan-do-ra-eo-bien-hormuz-san-iphone)) - **Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran:** The vessel entered an 'unauthorized and dangerous' shipping channel, struck a mine, caught fire, and sank. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/ngu-dan-do-ra-eo-bien-hormuz-san-iphone)) *Where they agree:* The GFS Pride caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz; the crew of 21 was evacuated. ### Status and Control of the Strait of Hormuz - **Iran:** The Strait of Hormuz will only be reopened on the condition that US troops are withdrawn from the region. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/ngu-dan-do-ra-eo-bien-hormuz-san-iphone)) - **USA (Trump's statement):** A blockade has been declared, no vessel will pass without US permission; the strait will be declared United States territory. ([inosmi.ru](https://inosmi.ru/20260815/ormuzskiy-proliv-279708239.html)) *Where they agree:* Both sides confirm that the strait is currently closed to regular commercial shipping (restrictions/blockade imposed). ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Рыбаки стекаются в Ормузский пролив, чтобы «охотиться» за айфонами.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/ngu-dan-do-ra-eo-bien-hormuz-san-iphone) - Primary source: sinking of GFS Pride on 14.10.2026, cargo collection by fishermen, Singapore's version (fire, evacuation of 21 crew members) and Iranian military's version (mine explosion), status of the second sunken ship in a day, Iran's statement on 16.10 regarding conditions for opening the strait. - [Трамп раскрыл планы на Ормузский пролив: из Ирана прилетела ответочка](https://inosmi.ru/20260815/ormuzskiy-proliv-279708239.html) - Secondary source: Trump's quote on intending to declare the strait US territory and imposing a blockade. Used for the versions block regarding the status of the strait; the main text of the article does not rely on it. ## FAQ ### What happened to the GFS Pride? On October 14, 2026, the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, carrying over 2,500 containers, sank in the Strait of Hormuz. All 21 crew members were evacuated, with no casualties. ### What are fishermen collecting in the strait? Fishermen are pulling surfaced containers and cargo out of the water: boxes of smartphones (sources indicate iPhone 18), French perfume, and other floating goods. ### What is the discrepancy regarding the cause of the accident? Singaporean authorities point to a fire that broke out before the sinking, whereas the Iranian military claims the vessel struck a mine in an unauthorized shipping channel and then caught fire. ### What is the current status of the Strait of Hormuz? On October 16, Iran stated that the strait would only be reopened upon the withdrawal of US troops from the region; statements from the US mentioned a blockade and the intention to declare the strait US territory.