US denies Iran’s claim of downing fighter jet near Hormuz

The United States has dismissed Iran’s latest claim of a military victory in the Persian Gulf, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) stating unequivocally that no American fighter jet has been lost. The denial came shortly after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had downed an “enemy” warplane over Qeshm Island, a strategic area near the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, CENTCOM said: “All U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran’s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times.”

Pattern of false claims

The exchange marks the latest episode of information warfare between Washington and Tehran, as the two sides remain locked in a devastating military confrontation. The IRGC has previously made similar assertions of downing US aircraft, none of which have been verified by independent sources. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil passes, has become a flashpoint since the US-Israeli air offensive against Iran began on February 28.

Wider conflict and casualties

That campaign has killed more than 1,340 people, including Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing infrastructure damage and disrupting global markets and aviation. A total of 13 US service members have been killed and about 303 others injured since the operation began. For Türkiye, which maintains close ties with both Washington and Tehran while advocating for regional de-escalation, such false claims risk inflaming tensions and complicating diplomatic efforts to end the war. Ankara continues to call for verified reporting and a return to dialogue.