Strait of Hormuz — Iranian state media have aired a video featuring two journalists in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that ships had turned off their engines and were waiting for Iran’s permission to pass through the strategic waterway.
The footage, broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), quickly sparked debate online as observers questioned the accuracy of the report.
Shipping monitor TankerTrackers investigated the vessel featured in the broadcast and identified it as NAVARZ, owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company. The organization noted that the ship has been stationary at that location since March 13, 2025, long before the report, contradicting the journalists’ claims.
The journalists asserted on camera, “We can see ships turning off engines to take permission from Iran to get passage.” However, the TankerTrackers data shows that the vessel had not moved in over a year, highlighting discrepancies in the state media coverage.
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The video has triggered widespread discussion and debunkings on social media, raising questions about Iranian state reporting on maritime activity in one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.
Observers also noted that while Iranian media sought to portray the situation as ships seeking Iran’s clearance, publicly available shipping data indicates no such activity.
