Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has said that it intercepted four vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the ships were operating with the backing of the United States military.

In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Friday, the IRGC said the vessels were stopped during a combined missile and drone operation in the strategically important waterway.

The force did not disclose the identities of the ships, their ownership, cargo or intended destinations, and provided no further details about the circumstances surrounding the interception.

The IRGC warned the vessel owners against relying on what it described as “baseless support” from the US military, urging them to comply with its directives.

It also cautioned leaders of several countries in the southern Gulf region against placing confidence in American backing.

The incident comes amid mounting tensions in the Strait of Hormuz where military exchanges between Iran and the United States have intensified in recent weeks following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement brokered through Pakistani mediation.