Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Wednesday that four oil tankers were destroyed after hitting naval mines south of the Strait of Hormuz. It also said its forces shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the strait.
According to the IRGC, the tankers were trying to pass through a “prohibited” route when they struck the mines, and were still burning. It said two other vessels violating its restrictions had been stopped.
The Guards said their air defenses brought down the drone at about 4:30 a.m. local time using an “advanced air defense system,” and described it as the 56th MQ-9 they have downed. The statement said IRGC forces were ready to deliver a “final blow” to Israel and the United States.
Iran did not name the tankers, their owners or their flags, and none of the claims has been independently confirmed. The US military has not commented. US Central Command has repeatedly dismissed previous Iranian claims that ships struck mines in the strait as inaccurate.
The claims came two days after US forces struck an Iranian anti-aircraft site on Qeshm Island in the strait. President Trump confirmed the strike Tuesday, calling it “just a minor attack” and insisting the US is not at war with Iran.
Iran has largely blocked shipping through Hormuz since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began in February.
