An Iranian news agency, IRNA, reported on 17/7 that the country's navy fired an anti-ship cruise missile from its coastline. The target was described as a "hostile" US ship in the northern Indian Ocean. IRNA did not specify the exact time of the incident or the type of vessel targeted.

IRNA stated the missile caused "fear and panic" among the US ship's crew, forcing the vessel to move out of range of Iranian forces.

Iranian military officials said the attack occurred during the 13th phase of Operation Saegheh, commemorating crew members who died on the Iranian navy's warship IRIS Dena, according to Wana news agency.

The Dena was reportedly sunk by a US Los Angeles-class attack submarine, the USS Charlotte, with a torpedo on 4/3. This incident occurred in waters off southern Sri Lanka and resulted in the deaths of at least 87 sailors.

The US has not yet commented on Iran's recent claims. US Central Command has consistently denied previous Iranian reports of their assets being attacked.

A missile is fired during a drill involving Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and navy on 17/2. *AFP*

Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on 18/7 that it had intercepted four ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

"In the past few hours, four violating vessels, supported by the US military, attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. These ships were all intercepted on the spot in a coordinated operation using missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles," the IRGC stated.

On the same day, the IRGC reported that two oil tankers "exploded and caught fire" while attempting to navigate a minefield south of the Strait of Hormuz. The statement did not provide specific details about these two tankers.

The IRGC claimed that ships hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz were "misled by US intelligence," and warned sailors not to "fall into a trap by entering mined waters." The US Navy had previously declared the southern Strait of Hormuz clear of mines and encouraged cargo ships to use it.

Iran has nearly completely blockaded the Strait of Hormuz again over the past week. This comes after a temporary ceasefire agreement with the US collapsed, leading to a resumption of hostilities between the two nations.

Location of the Indian Ocean and where the Iranian warship sank off Sri Lanka. *AA*

Iran is actively seeking to control this vital shipping lane. It consistently warns oil tankers and cargo ships to use only routes near Iran's coast in the northern part of the strait, rather than the southern corridors that the US is striving to protect.

In response to Iran's threats to maritime transport in the strait, the US has re-imposed blockades on Iranian ports. Washington has also carried out night airstrikes on targets within Iranian territory, aiming to weaken Tehran's ability to monitor and threaten the strait.

By Thanh Tam (AFP, Reuters, Ynet Global, Wana)