Accra:Tehran Iran's Navy announced on Friday that it had destroyed an "enemy unmanned vessel" operating east of the Strait of Hormuz. In separate incidents, two tankers were damaged and caught fire after hitting naval mines in areas deemed restricted and unsafe by Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the Iranian Navy reported that the unmanned vessel was struck and destroyed early Friday in an area monitored by the Iranian naval forces. However, the statement did not provide further details about the vessel's identity or its operator.

In other developments, the Iranian Navy stated that two tankers had deactivated their tracking systems and were navigating through restricted areas east of the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings. The tankers struck naval mines, resulting in damage and fires.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy also reported that these tankers were intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz while attempting to transit through unauthorized routes. According to a statement from the IRGC, one tanker was located in the eastern part of the strait, and the other was in the western part. Both vessels were said to have deactivated their navigation systems and were allegedly operating with support from the US military.

The IRGC further claimed that the tankers ignored multiple radio warnings before being stopped near the southern shores of the strait. Iran's Mehr News Agency released video footage purportedly showing the two tankers halted in the Strait of Hormuz.

These incidents occur amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy and commodity supplies. Previous military confrontations and a stalled memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran contribute to the ongoing security concerns in the region.