Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-1 drone over the eastern Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the IRGC’s public relations office said the drone was brought down by an advanced air defence system operated by the Corps’ Aerospace Force.

The IRGC described the incident as the 14th time it had downed a drone of this kind, highlighting what it said was the growing capability of Iran’s air defence systems.

The Corps did not provide further details about the exact time of the interception or the circumstances under which the US drone was operating in the area.

The Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is a major route for global oil and gas shipments. Military activity in the area has frequently heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.

The reported incident underscores continuing military tensions in the Gulf, where surveillance operations and disputes over airspace and maritime security remain key sources of friction between Tehran and Washington.

There was no immediate US response included in the IRGC statement. (ILKHA)