The United States Central Command has dismissed Iran's claim that its Revolutionary Guard downed an enemy fighter jet near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM stated all US fighter aircraft are accounted for and called it a repeatedly false claim from Tehran. The denial follows Iranian state media reports detailing the alleged interception and crash of the aircraft. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister warned the US against escalation, highlighting potential global economic consequences from regional energy disruptions.

US Central Command refutes Iran's claim of downing an enemy fighter jet. All US aircraft are accounted for, calling it a repeated false allegation.

The United States military's Central Command has dismissed allegations made by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding the purported downing of an "enemy" fighter jet over Qeshm Island.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM refuted the Iranian claims concerning the incident in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that "all US fighter aircraft are accounted for." Addressing the frequency of such reports from Tehran, the military command noted that "Iran's IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times," according to the social media post.

This denial follows assertions from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that its aerial defence units intercepted and downed an "enemy fighter jet in the south of Qeshm Island," Al Jazeera reported on Friday, citing Iranian state media outlets.

According to a statement released by the IRGC, the military operation resulted in the aircraft being neutralised over the strategic waters of the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials further noted that after being hit, the fighter jet crashed into the Gulf between Hengam Island and Qeshm Island.

In parallel with these military claims, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that recent military actions by the United States targeting non-military targets will fail to alter the Islamic Republic's strategic stance.

In a statement released on social media, the Foreign Minister asserted that the targeting of essential public works would not achieve its intended diplomatic or military pressure. "Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender," Araghchi said in a post on X, which featured an image of a destroyed bridge.

He further argued that the nature of these strikes reflects the internal state of the opposing forces rather than their strength, stating that such actions instead "convey the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray."

These developments occur against the backdrop of persistent US-supported Israeli military actions directed at the Islamic Republic. Tehran has repeatedly condemned these operations for targeting civilian infrastructure, which it maintains is a "flagrant violation of international law."