SRINAGAR: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Tuesday that it had shot down a US MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Iranian state-run broadcaster IRIB, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continued to escalate over the strategic waterway.
IRIB reported that the drone was brought down in the Strait of Hormuz but did not immediately provide further details regarding the circumstances of the incident.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s state-run news agency reported explosions in the southeastern city of Konarak and the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, though no official information was released about casualties or damage.
The developments come after US President Donald Trump said the United States was likely to take control of operations in the Strait of Hormuz and expected other countries to contribute financially for the protection of the key maritime route.
In response, Iran’s military said it “does not and will not allow” the United States to interfere in the management of the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, carrying a significant share of global oil exports, and the latest developments have further heightened concerns over security and stability in the Gulf region.
