Iranian media reported, according to the Army’s Public Relations Department, that its drones intercepted 3 American drones near the area of ​​the ongoing Iranian maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian army made it clear that it sent successive messages to the American drones, warning that they were entering Iranian airspace over the maneuvering area, before sending their drones to intercept them.

The military reported on its website that a B-8 aircraft and two MQ-9 and RQ-4 drones had entered the Iranian air defenses, and were detected by the air force's radars.

According to Iranian reports, the US drones changed course and left the area of ​​the exercises that have been going on for two days after being intercepted.

The RQ-4, known as the Global Hawk, is the same type as that of a plane that was shot down by Iranian air defenses in June 2019 as Tehran said it violated its airspace.

Tension has increased between Washington and Tehran since US President Donald Trump withdrew unilaterally from the agreement between the five countries (the Big Five and Germany) with Iran regarding the latter’s nuclear program in 2018.

Washington re-imposed sanctions on Tehran, which about a year later reneged on some of its obligations under the deal signed in Vienna in 2015.

Tension and responses

Tensions rose dramatically after the United States assassinated the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, General Qassem Soleimani, in an air strike near Baghdad International Airport last January.

Tehran responded to this operation by targeting the Al-Asad base in western Iraq, which contains American soldiers.

As of last Thursday, the Iranian army began naval exercises that will last for 3 days near the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday, the Iranian Navy deployed domestically manufactured military equipment, including a submarine and cruise missiles.

The army stated on its website that the submarine called "Al Fateh" appeared during operations for the first time, and sailed to the Indian Ocean.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic crossing point (Reuters)

Maneuvers and tests

The maneuver - dubbed "Zulfiqar 99" - is taking place in a marine area that extends over more than two million square kilometers, starting from the northern Indian Ocean to the eastern end of the Strait of Hormuz, which is considered a strategic transit point through which a fifth of the world's oil production passes.

The Iranian Navy also tested the launch of a "Qadir" cruise missile, which was first unveiled in 2014, indicating that it succeeded in hitting its target at a distance of more than 200 km.

Navy Commander Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said that the installation of missile systems across the southern coast of the country "enabled us to target any threat at sea and from any point."

"The matter is not related to deterrence, but rather to attack any target that could pose a threat to Iran," state television reported.

Videos broadcast on state television showed the missile being launched from a portable system installed on a truck, and Khanzadi thanked the crew afterwards.

The navy said that a home-made "Simorgh" fighter drone also destroyed its targets by using "smart and accurate bombs" in waters more than 1,000 km away.