Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Sep 15: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that it intercepted and destroyed an advanced MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz using a new air defence system.

According to a statement issued by the IRGC and reported by Iranian state media, the drone was detected and engaged by the Aerospace Force of the IRGC using a new advanced air defence system operating under Iran’s integrated air defence network. The incident reportedly took place over the strategic waterway on Monday.

The IRGC did not initially provide details about the drone’s operator, its mission or the circumstances surrounding the interception. Some reports identified the drone as American, but the initial IRGC statement did not provide independent evidence establishing its origin.

The claim comes amid heightened military tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important waterways and a major route for global energy shipments. Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped sharply amid the ongoing regional conflict, with only four commodity vessels reported to have transited the waterway on Monday, compared with 125 daily transits before the war.

Iran has previously reported intercepting or destroying unmanned US aircraft in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media also reported that an MQ-1 drone had been shot down by Iranian Army air defence forces last week.

The latest claim has not been independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from the United States regarding the reported interception.

The reported downing of the drone comes as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue to intensify, with diplomatic efforts involving Iran and Gulf states also facing delays. The developments have raised fresh concerns over the security of a crucial global energy corridor.