A photo of a vessel exploding, collaged on a picture of naval mines, was used falsely as a thumbnail for online posts about two oil tankers that caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Aug. 31.
On Sept. 2, a Facebook page shared the incorrect photo, with this caption:
“BREAKING | IRAN’s Armed Forces: Two oil tankers in violation of the rules were struck by mines in the Strait of Hormuz, exploded, and were forced to stop. Additional punitive measures are being planned for shipping companies that, instead of taking the lawful route, fall for U.S. deception.”
The photo and the caption are mismatched. Through reverse image searching, VERA Files Fact Check found the original photo on Getty Images.
Credited to Anadolu photographer Cemal Yurttas, the explosion photo —taken on Aug. 30, 2025– carried the description:
“An explosion is seen on the sea during the performance of the Underwater Offense (SAT) and Underwater Defense Group (SAS) commands as part of TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland, reflecting the vision of the National Technology Initiative at sea, in Istanbul, Turkiye, on August 30, 2025.”
Likewise, the original picture of the naval mines was traced back to a Getty Images stock photo. Credited to photographer Don Farrall, it carried the caption: “Photography (not CGI) of mines underwater.”
In a Sept. 2 online briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that two Filipino seafarers were killed after Saudi-owned oil tanker Sidr was struck by projectiles while transiting in the strait. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry condemned Iran for the attacks, but Iran has not responded to the allegation.
Iran confirmed that two tankers had caught fire after hitting mines while traversing through an unauthorized route at the strait. Fourteen Filipino crew members survived and are awaiting repatriation.
The inaccurate posts by Facebook page Iran Military (created February 2024) and Instagram user iranmilitary.en have collectively garnered 3,200 reactions; 90 comments; and 47 shares.
