US Military: "Iranian Drones Threatening Commercial Ships in Strait of Hormuz Shot Down"

Clashes Continue Despite Provisional Postwar MOU Agreement
U.S. Says "F-16 Fighter Jets Patrolling the Middle East"

The United States has shot down offensive drones launched by Iran to target merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite a provisional agreement on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries, clashes in the Strait of Hormuz continue.

Oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On June 12 (local time), the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, announced on social media platform X that "Iran launched several one-way attack drones (suicide drones) to target merchant vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have shot down all the drones in the past several hours."

CENTCOM added, "Ship passage through the Strait continues without interruption, and international trade routes remain navigable," emphasizing that "U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets are patrolling the skies over the Middle East."

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that explosions were detected near Sirik Port on Iran's southern coast and in waters near Qeshm Island.

Iran has been attempting to assert control by launching drone attacks on merchant ships trying to pass through the Strait without the approval of its military. The U.S. military continues to respond with force, shooting down Iranian drones that threaten merchant vessels.

Iran has officially declared its intention to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and to collect fees. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Iranian state TV that "the management of the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the pre-war status."

The confrontation continues between Iran, which is effectively treating the Strait of Hormuz as internal waters and is forcibly collecting 'tolls,' and the United States, which is seeking to restore the Strait to an international waterway with free passage as it was before the war.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.