Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say four oil tankers were destroyed by naval mines near Strait of Hormuz and claim another U.S. drone downed

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said four oil tankers were destroyed by naval mines while attempting to pass through a restricted maritime area south of the Strait of Hormuz, in a series of claims that also included the downing of an American surveillance drone and a warning of further attacks against Israel and the United States.

According to the IRGC, the four tankers entered an area subject to navigation restrictions and struck naval mines. The force said two additional vessels were stopped, but provided no independently verified information about the identities of the ships, their crews, cargoes or the extent of the damage.

In a separate announcement, the IRGC said its forces had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time. The organization described the aircraft as the 56th American MQ-9 it had brought down during the conflict.

The reported figure could not be independently confirmed. There was no immediate verification from U.S. military authorities of the latest alleged drone loss.

The IRGC also warned that its forces were prepared to deliver what it described as a final blow against Israel and the United States, signaling the possibility of further military escalation.

The claims come amid continuing hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a central concern for international shipping and energy markets.

The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Reports of naval mines, damaged tankers or restrictions on commercial vessels can carry significant implications for shipping operations and energy supplies.

The IRGC’s statements did not establish whether the four tankers had sunk, whether their crews were rescued or whether the incidents had been confirmed by independent maritime authorities.