Iran Claims Seizure of US Drone and Tanker Mine Strikes in Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed to have seized a US drone in the Strait of Hormuz and alleged that three tankers struck naval mines. CENTCOM firmly denied the mine reports.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claimed on Thursday that it intercepted and safely landed an American unmanned aerial vehicle, identified as an MQM-170, in the western Strait of Hormuz. In a separate statement, the force alleged that three oil tankers struck naval mines over the past day. These claims have received no independent verification.
According to the Iranian announcement, electronic warfare units detected the drone, overrode its guidance systems, and landed it intact. The IRGC asserted that the aircraft was tasked with gathering intelligence on air defense systems along the Persian Gulf coast and the Strait of Hormuz. Data extracted from the drone allegedly indicated it launched from the coast of a southern Gulf state, though the specific country was not named.
The MQM-170 model belongs to the Outlaw family of aerial vehicles manufactured by the American company Griffon Aerospace. The MQM-170C variant functions primarily as an aerial target drone and a platform for payload development, capable of carrying cameras and sensors. These specifications do not independently verify the specific mission claimed by Iranian authorities.
Simultaneously, the IRGC claimed that three oil tankers attempted to transit through a southern maritime route designated as prohibited by Tehran, having disabled their radar and navigation systems while ignoring warnings. According to the Iranian account, the vessels struck mines, caught fire, and were abandoned near the southern shores of the strait. The statement omitted vessel names, flags, and casualty data.
CENTCOM categorically denied the Iranian reports, reiterating that US forces have cleared mines from all internationally recognized shipping lanes. Military officials confirmed that the routes remain safe, with thousands of commercial vessels navigating them without incident.
