Tehran releases video ‘proving’ no drone was downed by US Navy ship

Footage aired on state television after Washington's claim of having downed Iranian drone

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps released footage on Saturday disproving the US claim of shooting down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz, showing the video was transmitted after the alleged time it was destroyed.

🔴 DO NOT MISS 🔴#IRGC releases video showing its #drone -the #US alleges to have downed-safely returning to its base after monitoring #USSBoxer before and after the vessel sailed through the Strait of #Hormuz.

PARTS 1-2-3#Iran #IranianDrone #StraitOfHormuz #PerisanGulf pic.twitter.com/5by5nqoK3g

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) July 19, 2019

According to RT, the elite military unit published the footage yesterday live on state television channel Press TV.

The video appears to depict American warship USS Boxer sailing through the strait in the early hours of July 19, according to the timestamp shown.

Tehran rejects US claim of 'destroying' Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz

In a statement, the IRGC said it published the footage “to let the world’s opinion know that the allegation is groundless and a sheer lie,” arguing the video contradicts the timeframe presented by Washington and that all Iranian drones returned safely to their bases.

🔴 DO NOT MISS 🔴#IRGC releases video showing its #drone -the #US alleges to have downed-safely returning to its base after monitoring #USSBoxer before and after the vessel sailed through the Strait of #Hormuz.

PART 3#Iran #IranianDrone #StraitOfHormuz #PerisanGulf pic.twitter.com/ZRo88W3Jqw

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) July 19, 2019

Earlier on July 18, US President Donald Trump claimed that the drone had flown to within 1,000 yards of the USS Boxer.

Trump said the USS Boxer “took defensive action” against the Iranian drone as it was “threatening the safety of the ship and the ship’s crew,” Trump announced at the White House.

“The drone was immediately destroyed,” he added.

The next day, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied the claim.

“We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!” Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway.

Tensions between the two countries are at a fever pitch with the Trump administration having slapped with a raft of sanctions on Iran.