Iran has released a video which it says disproves Donald Trump’s claims the US shot down an Iranian drone in the Gulf.

The footage, which experts say does not actually prove the dispute either way, shows aerial views of warships which appear to be sailing through the Straits of Hormuz.

Iranian state TV, which first broadcast the video, said the timings and positional data overlaid on the footage showed it had been taken after the drone was supposed to have been downed by USS Boxer, an American naval vessel in the area.

But analysts and reporters onboard the USS Boxer said the images are inconclusive and some of the shots of the US ship could have been taken from Iranian helicopters seen nearby, not the drone.

The war of words over the fate of Iran’s drone mark another escalation in the increasingly tense conflict in the Gulf.

Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Show all 17 1 /17 Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, their surface-to-air missile is seen as it shoots down a US surveillance drone EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures This photo shows US RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned surveillance drone. A drone of this model was shot down by Iran on Thursday 21 June AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An oil tanker is on fire after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13. The US has blamed Iran for the attack Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, debris from the downed US drone is seen after it was recovered from Iranian waters AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures US President Trump holds up a signed executive order to increase sanctions on Iran on 24 June AP Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iranian President Rouhani stated in a televised address that the White House is "afflicted by mental retardation" following the increase in sanctions on 25 June EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An Iranian navy boat tackles the fire on the Norwegian owned Front Altair oil tanker after it was hit in a suspected attack AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, debris from the downed US drone is seen after it was recovered from Iranian waters AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A screenshot from a video released by the US Department of Defense that the US claims to show Iranian removing an unexploded limpet mine form the hull of the Japan-owned ship that was attacked in the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An item reportedly found on the Japan-owned oil tanker that was attacked on June 13 in the Gulf of Oman AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A handout photograph from the US Department of Defense shows a composite material that the US claim was left behind on the hull of the Japan-owned oil tanker following the removal of an unexploded limpet mine Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A view from the cabin of an Iranian navy boat as it tackles the fire on the Norwegian owned Front Altair oil tanker after it was hit in a suspected attack EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Release by US government A picture released by U.S. Central Command shows damage to the hull of the oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The picture suggests that the ship is 'likely' to have been hit by a mine as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo moves to blame Iran for the suspected attack Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Release by US government A picture released by U.S. Central Command shows damage to the hull of the oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The pictures suggests that the ship is 'likely' to have been hit by a mine as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo moves to blame Iran for the suspected attack EPA

On Friday, a British-flagged oil tanker was boarded and seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The owners of the Stena Impero say they have lost contact with those on board and denied Iran’s claims the ship was “violating international maritime rules”.

In June, Iran shot down a US military drone in the Straits of Hormuz, a vitally important shipping lane near Iran’s territorial waters through which a fifth of the world’s oil is sent.

Mr Trump announced the US Navy had destroyed an Iranian drone on Thursday after it “threatened the safety” of the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship.

Despite the president telling reporters it had definitely been shot down, Pentagon officials later clarified it had been instead brought down by electronic jamming and the USS Boxer had not fired any of its weapons.

But Iran denied this, with senior government officials in Tehran even suggesting America may have downed one of its own drones instead.

The hardline Revolutionary Guards, whose small boats have been harassing and intimidating shipping in the Straits of Hormuz for weeks, then released the video as part of its efforts to rebuff the US claims.

Donald Trump says Iran is 'Nothing but trouble'

Iran has a history of making deeply misleading claims. After a series of mysterious explosions and attacks on ships last month, its leaders denied any involvement.

But the US military then released its own video which appeared to show an Iranian patrol boat removing an unexploded limpet mine from the hull of a larger ship.

Britain was dragged into the escalating dispute when the Royal Marines seized an Iranian ship off Gibraltar and accused it of smuggling oil into Syria, breaching EU sanctions.