The U.S. Central Command on Thursday, April 2, responded to a fresh and viral claim from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that it shot down an enemy fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM stated that all American fighter aircraft operating in the region remain fully accounted for, with no losses due to enemy fire reported.
The command described the Iranian announcement as false and noted it marks at least the sixth time the IRGC has issued the same type of claim.
The IRGC said its forces brought down the jet in Iranian airspace near the strategic waterway, a key chokepoint for global oil shipments.
Iranian state media quickly circulated the report but provided no independent evidence that held up to immediate scrutiny.
“All U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for,” the statement read in part. It added that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has repeated this exact assertion multiple times before without any verification.
Tensions in the Persian Gulf have stayed high for weeks amid wider clashes involving U.S. forces, Israel, and Iranian-backed groups.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil, making any disruption there a concern for energy markets and international shipping.
Also Read: CENTCOM Reveals Massive Scale of U.S. Strikes as Iran Campaign Enters Second Month
U.S. officials have not linked the latest Iranian statement to any particular aircraft type or incident on Thursday. Instead, they pointed to a pattern of unproven announcements from Tehran.
Downing of a fighter jet claim
This is not the first time such reports have surfaced. In recent weeks, Iranian outlets claimed successes against American F-15, F-18, and even F-35 fighter jets in various locations near the southern coast.
Each time, CENTCOM responded with similar denials, confirming that no U.S. planes were missing or damaged by enemy action.
An earlier claim alleged a strike on an F-18 fighter jet near Chabahar. Another mentioned an F-15 fighter jet close to Hormuz Island.
In each case, the U.S. military said its aircraft continued operations without interruption, and no wreckage or pilot losses were confirmed by American or independent sources.
The latest denial came hours after the IRGC’s announcement. CENTCOM operates across the Middle East, currently focusing on the ongoing war with Iran.
Its aircraft have flown thousands of combat and support missions in recent months as part of efforts to meet the objectives of the Epic Fury operation, and to protect shipping lanes and counter threats from Iranian proxies.
No details emerged about any actual engagement in the air near Qeshm Island on Thursday. Qeshm sits at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and hosts Iranian military installations.
The U.S. has maintained a strong naval and air presence in the Gulf to safeguard freedom of navigation. Officials in Washington have repeatedly warned Iran against actions that could close or threaten the waterway.
Also Read: US Navy Denies Claims That Injured Sailor Was Hit by the Iranian Military
Iranian leaders, for their part, have vowed to defend their territory and have accused U.S. and Israeli forces of repeated violations.
They point to their air defense systems as capable of handling advanced fighters, though independent confirmation of those capabilities versus U.S. fighter jets has not appeared in public records.
President Donald Trump recently revealed that since the military operation against Iran started late in February, Iran’s capabilities to pose any danger to fighter jets have been reduced to almost zero.
He also noted that most of Iran’s defense systems have been struck, giving U.S. forces and their Israeli counterparts the freedom to enjoy air superiority inside Iran’s airspace.
Thursday’s exchange fits into a longer information battle that accompanies the physical tensions. Both sides release statements quickly, often before outside observers can verify the full facts.
In past cases, videos shared by Iranian sources showed unrelated footage or failed to match the claimed events.
CENTCOM’s latest statement stopped short of detailing current U.S. flight operations but made clear that inventory checks showed everything was in place. “Iran’s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times,” it said.
No casualties or additional incidents were mentioned on either side following the report.
