The statement came after Iran said it had carried out strikes against targets linked to U.S. forces in the region, though Tehran did not identify the locations or specify the targets involved.

Bahrain said the reported drone attacks constituted a violation of its sovereignty but did not immediately provide details on the number of drones, the locations targeted or whether there were casualties or damage.

The incident marks a further escalation in regional tensions as military exchanges involving Iran and the United States continue despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a broader agreement to end the conflict.

There was no immediate independent verification of the reported attacks, and Iranian authorities did not directly comment on Bahrain’s accusations beyond their earlier statement that strikes had been carried out against U.S.-linked targets in the region.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the action was taken in response to what Tehran described as U.S. maritime misconduct, including the seizure of commercial vessels and oil tankers linked to Iran.

U.S. Central Command denied the claim, saying no Iranian attack or missile launch targeted American warships and that U.S. naval forces continued to operate normally in regional waters.

” Iranian forces did NOT attack or fire at U.S. Navy warships,” Central Command said, adding that such an action would constitute a serious violation of the ceasefire that has largely held since April 8.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions despite the truce that halted major hostilities following the conflict that erupted after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

Separately, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said American forces boarded the sanctioned stateless oil tanker Davina in the Indian Ocean during a maritime interdiction operation. Washington said it would continue efforts to disrupt networks involved in Iranian oil shipments.

The Davina, also known as the Lenore, was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for its alleged involvement in Iranian oil trading. Ship-tracking data showed the vessel near Sri Lanka’s southern coast on Friday carrying a near-full cargo of crude oil.

The incident underscores persistent friction between Tehran and Washington as diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting settlement to the conflict remain stalled.

According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the aircraft was identified as an Orbiter surveillance drone, an Israeli-designed unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering missions.
The report said Iranian military personnel, working alongside naval forces, recovered wreckage from the drone after it was brought down in Hormozgan Province, a strategically important region overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most significant maritime energy corridors.

Iranian authorities did not immediately provide details regarding the circumstances of the interception, including the drone’s flight path, mission profile or the method used to bring it down.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government or the Israel Defense Forces regarding the Iranian claim.

The reported incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened regional diplomacy and growing expectations that Iran and the United States could be nearing a memorandum of understanding aimed at easing tensions after months of confrontation across the Middle East.

Relations between Iran and Israel have remained highly strained amid ongoing regional conflicts, cyber operations, proxy confrontations and competing security interests. Both countries have frequently accused one another of conducting intelligence and military activities beyond their borders.

The Orbiter series of drones, developed by Israeli defense manufacturers, is designed for surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions. Such systems are typically employed to gather real-time intelligence while minimizing risk to personnel.

If confirmed, the downing of the drone would represent another episode in the long-running shadow conflict between Iran and Israel, even as diplomatic efforts continue to reshape the broader regional security environment.