Tension in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran claims to have destroyed an American drone ship

Naval tension in the Strait of Hormuz has once again increased. Iran has claimed that its navy destroyed an enemy unmanned vessel in the eastern Strait of Hormuz on Friday morning, while there have been reports of fires breaking out after two oil tankers hit mines in the same waterway.

According to the Iranian Navy, the unmanned vessel was targeted while it was operating in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran did not provide further details about the identity of the vessel or its operator.

Iranian authorities said that two oil tankers had turned off their GPS and tracking systems and were allegedly trying to pass through a prohibited shipping lane. During this time, both ships hit mines, which resulted in them catching fire.

On the other hand, Oman’s Maritime Security Center has confirmed that the Royal Oman Navy has safely evacuated 25 crew members from a merchant ship that caught fire after the attack.

According to the report, the affected ship was Panamanian-flagged and was near the Omani coast. The crew was also provided with necessary medical facilities after the rescue operation. However, a direct link between the incident and Iran’s claim that the tankers were hit by mines has not been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, has reiterated his claim that the Strait of Hormuz has been cleared of mines.

He says that as a result of US operations, important shipping lanes have been made safe for commercial ships and ships are continuing to travel through this waterway.

The maritime security situation in the Strait of Hormuz is uncertain due to the contradiction between Iranian claims and the US position. Any major disruption in this vital sea route could affect global oil shipments and energy markets.