In brief
The IRGC announced that four oil tankers entering the Strait of Hormuz via a forbidden southern route exploded after striking naval mines, setting the vessels on fire. In addition, the Guard said it had shot down a U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drone and earlier downed two low‑cost U.S. drones, warning that its forces were ready to deliver the “final blow” to Israel and the United States. The announcement follows Iranian restrictions on passage for vessels linked to Israel and the United States that were imposed in late February.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that four oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via a prohibited southern route detonated after striking naval mines, setting the vessels on fire, according to a statement on the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News.
According to the IRGC’s report, the explosions occurred after the ships struck mines that the Guards claim were placed to deter foreign vessels. The Guard also said two other ships that were trying to cross the strait were halted during the same incident.
In a separate operation, an IRGC air‑defense unit said it shot down an MQ‑9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz at 4:30 a.m. local time, a 0100 GMT interception that it said was the 56th MQ‑9 Reaper drone it had downed in recent months.
Earlier on Tuesday, the IRGC reported that its air‑defense forces had struck two U.S. low‑cost unmanned combat attack system drones over the southern Iranian port city of Bandar‑e Khamir.
Following these claims, the IRGC warned that its forces were ready to deliver the “final blow” to Israel and the United States.
“We are ready to deliver the final blow to Israel and the United States.”
According to the IRGC, its forces have tightened their control of the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, when it barred safe passage for vessels affiliated with Israel and the United States after joint U.S.–Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.
The announcement builds on a pattern of heightened tensions in the region, as the IRGC has repeatedly signaled its willingness to target foreign vessels and drones in response to perceived provocation. The Guard’s statement comes at a time when the international community continues to monitor maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.
Neither the Iranian government nor independent maritime monitoring groups have independently confirmed the presence of mines or the outcomes reported by the IRGC. The U.S. and its allies have not yet issued a formal response to the Iranian claims, but the incident has been noted by several regional observers who emphasize the potential for escalation in the Strait. Some analysts view the event as part of Iran’s broader strategy to pressure the United States and Israel for concessions, while others caution that it could lead to diplomatic fallout or military miscalculations.
In the aftermath of the IRGC’s statement, the governor’s office in Bandar-e Khamir has reportedly increased patrols in the area to safeguard local maritime commerce. Local shipping companies have expressed concern about navigating the southern route, citing the Guard’s warning that the waters are now considered “highly contested.”
As of the latest update, there has been no independent verification of the destruction of the four tankers, the downing of the MQ‑9 Reaper drone, or the status of the two other vessels that were stopped. The IRGC, however, continues to assert that its actions were defensive responses to foreign presence in a region it has deemed vital for national security.
