A US defence official said American forces shot down two Iranian drones after Tehran allegedly attempted to target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to remarks reported by Fox News.

The official said navigation through the strategic waterway remains open despite the incident.

Tension in the region remains high as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier said that explosions heard near the southern Iranian city of Sirik were linked to the interception of a vessel that attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz in violation of a transit ban imposed by Tehran.

The Guards said the tanker was forced to comply after receiving warnings and vowed to deal “very firmly” with any ship attempting to cross the strait.