Iran shoots down U.S. drone

TEHERAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said yesterday it had shot down a US “spy drone” which violated Iranian airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest incident to stoke tension in the strategic sea lane.

There was no immediate reaction from the United States.

The US-made Global Hawk surveillance drone was hit with a missile “after violating Iranian airspace” over the waters of Hormozgan province, the Guard said.

The Iranian military did not immediately publish images of the drone.

The incident comes at a time of growing antagonism between Iran and the US following two waves of still unexplained attacks on Gulf shipping.

The US has accused Iran of being behind the attacks.

Teheran has denied any involvement and hinted that Washington might have orchestrated them itself to provide a pretext for the use of force against Iran.

Tensions have been running high between Iran and the US ever since President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement in May last year.

The subsequent reimposition of crippling unilateral sanctions has dealt a heavy blow to Iran's already flagging economy.

Washington has also bolstered its military presence in the Middle East in a campaign of “maximum pressure” campaign against Teheran.

Its deployment to the Gulf of an aircraft carrier task force as well as B-52 bombers, an amphibious assault ship and a missile defence battery has sparked fears of fresh conflict in the region.

One of the two tankers attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week was damaged by a limpet mine, the US military said on Wednesday.

Commander Sean Kido of US Naval Forces Central Command said the mine used in the attack “is distinguishable and it is also strikingly bearing a resemblance to Iranian mines that have already been publicly displayed in Iranian military parades”.