Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-1 drone over the western part of the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC’s public relations office said the drone was detected and brought down in the early hours of Tuesday morning by what it described as a newly developed advanced aerospace air defense system operating as part of Iran’s integrated air defense network.

The IRGC did not provide further details about the circumstances of the incident, including the precise location of the interception, the drone’s mission or where it had been launched from.

The MQ-1 Predator is a remotely piloted aircraft originally developed by the United States for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as armed operations.

The reported interception comes amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes.

Iran has repeatedly warned that it will respond to what it considers violations of its airspace and territorial sovereignty, while the United States maintains military assets in and around the Persian Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major focal point of regional tensions, with military activity and competing security claims raising concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and energy supplies.

The IRGC statement did not say whether the drone was operating in Iranian airspace or provide evidence supporting its identification as an American aircraft. No immediate U.S. military statement was available on the reported incident. (ILKHA)