The U.S. has firmly denied Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claim that it successfully struck two American vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. Central Command, no U.S. Navy warships were hit, and all Iranian missile attempts failed. This dispute comes amid escalating tensions following U.S. military actions on Tuesday that targeted and destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers, a response to the Revolutionary Guard’s earlier ballistic missile attacks on an American warship. Centcom emphasized that the recently destroyed tankers are part of a lucrative network that finances the IRGC.

These hostilities have also impacted global oil markets, pushing Brent crude prices to over $100 a barrel. The U.S. struck four oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, including the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco, while a fifth tanker near Iran’s Kharg Island was also destroyed. The attacks came after Iranian missile assaults on American naval vessels failed to cause harm or damage. Both sides continue to exchange strikes, reigniting conflict in a critical oil shipping route.

Separately, Iran claimed to have captured a U.S. unmanned submersible in the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. responded that the drone was defective and contained no sensitive or classified technology. The underwater drone, described as an older model operating in support of regional surveillance, is an autonomous system produced by Anduril, valued at approximately $2.5 million. Centcom reiterated that U.S. operations in the area continue despite the loss of the drone.

The ongoing maritime confrontations highlight the intensifying conflict in the Middle East and the U.S. military’s growing reliance on autonomous technology for surveillance and operational support. While Iran’s Revolutionary Guard touts its capabilities to counteract American forces, U.S. officials maintain that their countermeasures remain effective. The situation remains fluid amid broader geopolitical and economic pressures involving sanctions and military maneuvers.