Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Iran has claimed that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) brought down a US MQ-1 surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington as both sides exchange military threats and operations in the Gulf region.
The announcement was made through Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which reported that the unmanned American aircraft had been intercepted over the strategic waterway. The claim was later repeated by several Iranian state-run media outlets. However, Iranian officials did not disclose details about the location of the incident or the circumstances surrounding the reported interception.
As of now, the United States has not confirmed or commented on Iran’s claim.
The reported drone incident came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would restore a naval blockade aimed at restricting Iranian maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, the measures would apply only to Iran and entities engaged in trade with Tehran, while ships from other nations would continue to navigate the route without restrictions.
Addressing reporters after signing an Executive Order, Trump said the US would maintain military pressure on Iran, asserting that recent operations had significantly weakened the country’s naval forces, missile systems, air capabilities and drone production infrastructure. He also claimed that further military action was planned as part of Washington’s strategy to curb Iran’s regional influence.
The US President further alleged that efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran had broken down after Iranian negotiators sought additional discussions despite what he described as a completed deal. Trump said the United States would continue its operations until its objectives were achieved.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said its recent strikes were intended to reduce Iran’s military capabilities and prevent threats to commercial shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes.
Iranian media also reported fresh explosions in different parts of the country. Mehr News Agency said an attack in Khuzestan province injured at least four people, while another explosion was reported in the southern city of Bushehr during the early hours of the day. Iranian authorities had not officially explained the cause of the Bushehr blast at the time of reporting.
The latest developments come as security concerns continue to mount across the Gulf. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of launching cruise missile strikes on two of its oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that reportedly killed an Indian crew member and left eight others injured.
With military activity increasing on both sides and diplomatic channels showing little progress, concerns are growing that the confrontation could widen further. Given the Strait of Hormuz’s importance to global oil shipments, any escalation in the region has the potential to disrupt international trade and energy markets.
The claim that a US MQ-1 drone was shot down has so far been made only by Iranian authorities. Independent verification or confirmation from US officials was not available at the time of publication.
