TEHRAN, — April 13, 2026 : Iran has claimed that its naval forces destroyed a United States vessel near the port of Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement issued via the official X account of the Iranian Armed Forces on April 13.
Iranian authorities stated that the incident occurred after the American vessel allegedly approached Iran’s coastline. The operation was carried out by Iran’s navy, which, according to the statement, resulted in the destruction of the vessel. No details were provided regarding the ship’s classification or any potential casualties. In its statement, Iran referred to the target as a U.S. ship but did not identify it as a warship.
Iran also released video footage showing a vessel engulfed in flames and producing thick smoke. The imagery does not allow clear identification of the ship type. Independent analysts have noted that the visible structure in the footage does not clearly match known classes of military warships, though no definitive conclusion has been reached.
At the time of the Iranian claim, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s naval power had been “completely destroyed.” The Iranian announcement followed shortly after this statement.
There has been no official confirmation of the incident from the United States or independent maritime authorities. The United States Navy has not issued any comment, and no acknowledgment of vessel loss has been made by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The claim coincided with the start of a U.S. Central Command maritime blockade initiated at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13, targeting all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade applies to Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman but does not restrict vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports.
The U.S. action followed the collapse of high-level negotiations between U.S. and Iranian delegations held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11 and 12, 2026, which ended without agreement. The discussions had focused on Iran’s nuclear program and regional maritime security issues.
Bandar Abbas, located along the Strait of Hormuz, serves as Iran’s primary naval headquarters and has been a focal point in the ongoing conflict that began earlier in 2026. Previous incidents reported in March 2026 included fires on vessels at the port following U.S. and Israeli operations; those incidents are separate from the April 13 claim.
Iran has previously warned that military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz would face a response. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has stated that it maintains operational control over the waterway and permits passage under defined conditions for non-military vessels.
Earlier on April 13, Iran also announced a counter-blockade affecting ports across the Middle East, stating that vessels would not be allowed to use regional ports until U.S. measures are lifted.
As of April 13, no further operational details regarding the claimed incident have been released, and the situation remains unverified pending independent confirmation.
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