According to an official IRGC statement, the two violating vessels, misled by provocative directives from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), attempted to navigate through an undeclared route under the aerial escort of the U.S. military. The vessels disregarded multiple warnings from Iranian naval forces before being precisely targeted and neutralized.
The IRGC further stated that, in response to a "fabricated CENTCOM statement" issued late Thursday, it had formally notified all shipping company owners and instructed insurance firms to disregard CENTCOM directives and to consult those who had previously been deceived and suffered incidents as a result.
The IRGC Navy reiterated its firm stance that any unlawful interventions, unauthorized orders, or hostile acts by U.S. military forces against vessels operating in the region will not go unanswered. It emphasized that IRGC remains fully prepared to respond decisively to any threats to Iran's national security and maritime sovereignty.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which approximately one-fifth of the world's petroleum passes, has long been a flashpoint in the strategic struggle with the U.S. aggression. The waterway holds immense geopolitical and economic significance, and Iran has consistently asserted its right to maintain security and enforce maritime regulations in its territorial waters.
Over the past years, the U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf has been a source of escalating tensions, with Washington accusing Tehran of harassing commercial shipping, while Iran counters that it is exercising legitimate sovereignty and responding to provocations. Tehran has repeatedly criticized Washington's "gunboat diplomacy" and interference in the regional affairs.
Hossein Amiri - seyed mohammad kazemi
