US denies Iran’s claim of destroying American sea drone in Hormuz

The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) denied an Iranian claim that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had destroyed an unmanned US military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

“All US military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones on patrol in the Strait of Hormuz supporting CENTCOM’s defensive layer,” the command said in a post on X on Friday.

Earlier, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that the Iranian Navy had destroyed an “enemy unmanned vessel” operating east of the strait. The statement did not identify the vessel or its operator.

Separately, the Iranian Navy said two tankers had struck naval mines and caught fire after sailing through areas designated as restricted by Iran.

The IRGC Navy also said it had stopped two tankers attempting to transit the strait through unauthorised routes.

The claims come amid rising tensions between Iran and the US over maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.