Tehran, May 5 -- Iranian state media has countered claims made by the United States regarding a recent military engagement in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the vessels targeted were civilian craft rather than military boats.

Reports indicate that the six "so-called Iranian small boats" fired upon by US forces on Monday were not associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Instead, Tehran maintains that they were civilian vessels transporting passengers and commercial goods.

According to state media, the military action resulted in the deaths of five individuals. This claim stands in direct contrast to the account provided by Washington, which characterised the operation as a necessary security measure.

A military offic...