Iran Claims It Shot Down a U.S. Drone

Iran has claimed that it shot down a MQ-9 Reaper Drone belonging to the United States after it entered its airspace. It also stated that it fired at an RQ-4 Drone and an F-35 Fighter Jet. According to Iranian officials, these actions were in response to recent US strikes in Tehran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that it has the legitimate right to retaliate against any violation and warned of further attacks on US bases in West Asia if military actions continue.

Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei issued strong warnings to the US, stating that such attacks during ongoing peace discussions would not be tolerated and that no American base in the region would remain safe. In response, US officials clarified that their strikes were carried out purely in self-defense, targeting boats suspected of laying naval mines and missile launch sites. They also confirmed that a naval base at Bandar Abbas Port was damaged during the operation.