Sunken Cargo Ship iPhones Sold Below Market Rates in Iran

Apple iPhones salvaged from a sunken vessel near the Strait of Hormuz are appearing in Iran advertisements at cheap rates.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 18, 2026 · 2:48 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Apple iPhones from a sunken cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz are advertised in Iran at below-market rates.

Iranian fishermen used small boats on Friday to collect iPhones and French perfume spilled from the GFS Pride.

The Singapore-flagged container ship sank on October 14 after all 21 crew members were safely evacuated.

Colonel Javad Mokhtarrezaei warned buyers about potential scams, hidden seawater damage, and registration issues in Iran.

Apple iPhones retrieved from a container ship that went down near the Strait of Hormuz are currently marketed in Iran at unusually low prices through advertisements labeling them as "war booty," according to RT. ProPakistani previously covered the recovery of these devices from the sunken vessel.

On Friday, numerous Iranian fishermen traveled into the strait using small vessels to gather brand new iPhones and French perfume that drifted out of the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride. One participant stated in a video that they went to gather the items after hearing about the sinking. The vessel sank on October 14.

Iran Police Warn Buyers Against iPhones

Colonel Javad Mokhtarrezaei, deputy head of Iran cyber police, warned that fraudsters might publish fraudulent listings for inexpensive phones, gather deposits or delivery charges, and vanish afterward. He advised purchasers to avoid sending money prior to inspecting the device and verifying the seller identity.

He added that genuine devices might still suffer from concealed damage because saltwater damages circuit boards, batteries, and screens. Units failing registration in the Hamta device registry of Iran could lose cellular network connectivity, and purchasers would receive no warranty or official receipt.

Truth?

The maritime authority of Singapore verified the sinking and noted that all 21 crew members escaped safely. The Revolutionary Guards of Iran previously stated that the vessel struck a mine while traveling on an unapproved path.

At the same time, fact-checkers such as Factnameh in Iran and Al Jazeera identified multiple popular salvage videos as artificial intelligence creations.

Questions and answers

When did the cargo ship sink?

The cargo ship sank on October 14.

Why are the iPhones being sold cheaply in Iran?

The iPhones were recovered from a container ship that sank in the Strait of Hormuz and are being advertised as war booty.

What warnings did police issue about buying these iPhones?

Police warned about scammers collecting deposits, hidden seawater damage to the devices, lack of warranties, and potential loss of mobile network service if the phones cannot be registered.