The IRGC states the vessel disabled its automatic identification system and positioning tools before entering a designated high-risk area. However, experts argue the fire's location at the aft of the ship is inconsistent with a mine strike and point to static smoke patterns in the video as evidence of manipulation. This incident follows multiple blasts in the southern strait on Oct 8, which Iran attributed to tankers violating maritime regulations.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Analysts Label IRGC Mine Video AI Fake After Gem No 2 Strike
Commodities10 days ago
A Taiwan-registered vessel carrying 2M barrels of Saudi crude oil was identified as the burning supertanker in media released by Tehran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While the IRGC claims the GEM NO 2 struck a naval mine on an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, shipping analysts and digital researchers label the supporting footage as AI-generated or fake. Separate reports indicate the ship may have been hit by a projectile off the UAE coast in waters used by tankers to bypass Iranian jurisdiction.
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