Tehran : Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that it shot down a US MQ-1 drone early Sunday after it allegedly entered Iranian airspace. According to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC said its air defence systems detected the aircraft immediately and targeted it with advanced missile systems, successfully destroying it.
The IRGC identified the drone as belonging to the US military and alleged that it had entered Iranian territory with the “intention of carrying out hostile operations.”
Separately, Iran has reiterated its control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, issuing a stern warning to maritime traffic. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian military stated that the waterway is under the full authority of Iran’s armed forces and that all commercial vessels and tankers must follow designated routes and obtain permission from the IRGC Navy. Any violation, it warned, would seriously endanger maritime security.
Tehran further cautioned international naval forces operating in the region against interfering with shipping operations, warning of swift countermeasures in response to any disruption.
The developments come amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, following reports of US military strikes on Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and subsequent Iranian retaliation.
Iranian state media also reported that air defence units had downed another unmanned aerial vehicle linked to what it described as a “US-Zionist aggressor enemy.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has said any potential agreement with Iran must ensure that Tehran does not acquire nuclear weapons capability and must secure the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei rejected these conditions, saying Iran “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago,” and added that no final agreement has been reached.
Trump also claimed that Iran would carry out mine-clearing operations, restore normal shipping routes with “no tolls,” and assist in dismantling its enriched uranium stockpiles, stating that “no money will be exchanged until further notice.”
In contrast, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that Tehran is demanding the immediate release of $12 billion before moving forward with any agreement. It also dismissed Trump’s statements on Iran’s nuclear stockpiles and shipping terms as “baseless,” saying no such clauses exist in the draft agreement.