IRGC Says It Downed Fourth MQ-1 Drone Over Eastern Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it intercepted and destroyed a fourth MQ-1 drone over the eastern Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Mehr News Agency. The interception was carried out using a new advanced aerospace air defence system operating within the country's integrated air defence network, the IRGC said.

The downing occurred minutes before the announcement, the report stated. No further details regarding the drone's mission or origin were immediately provided by Iranian authorities.

According to the IRGC, this marks the fourth MQ-1 drone destroyed in recent days. Iranian forces have continued operations against what they describe as hostile U.S. projectiles in and around the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is a vital route for global oil shipments and has been the site of repeated military encounters.

The report by Mehr News Agency did not specify the exact timing of the previous three downings or provide additional information about the air defence system used. It also did not indicate whether any wreckage was recovered or whether the drone was armed at the time of interception.

The IRGC's announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region, where U.S. and Iranian forces have periodically clashed over maritime and aerial incidents. The MQ-1, a remotely piloted aircraft historically used for surveillance and strike missions, has been a recurring subject of such reports. Iranian officials have previously stated that they will respond to any incursions into their airspace or territorial waters.

No independent confirmation of the downing was immediately available, and U.S. officials have not publicly commented on the claim. The Mehr News Agency report provided no further details on the operational status of the air defence system or the broader context of the interception. The report by Mehr News Agency added that the interception took place minutes before its publication, without elaborating on the drone's point of origin or its intended target.