Iran claims it downed US MQ-9 drone, engaged F-35 after alleged ceasefire violation
IRAN, TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday, May 26, claimed its forces shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone and engaged an F-35 fighter jet along with another unmanned aircraft that allegedly entered Iranian airspace.
The IRGC did not specify when the incidents occurred, but the allegations came shortly after the US military confirmed carrying out what it described as “self-defense strikes” against Iranian missile launch sites and armed boats near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night.
The latest accusations underline the continuing volatility in the Gulf region, where military exchanges between Washington and Tehran have persisted despite attempts to maintain a temporary truce.
Iran warns of 'certain' retaliation
In a strongly worded statement carried by Iranian state-affiliated media, the IRGC warned that any further violations by US forces would trigger a retaliatory response.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warns against any violation of the ceasefire by the aggressive US military, and considers its right to reciprocal response to be legitimate and certain,” the statement said.
Iranian officials have increasingly framed recent US military operations in the Gulf as direct breaches of understandings aimed at reducing tensions after weeks of confrontation around key shipping lanes.
The IRGC’s remarks appeared intended both as a warning to Washington and as a signal to regional allies that Tehran remains prepared to respond militarily if it believes its sovereignty is threatened.
Iran accuses US of violating Hormozgan
Iran’s foreign ministry separately accused the United States of violating the ceasefire in the southern Hormozgan region over the past 48 hours.
According to the ministry, US naval forces were involved in “repeated harassment” of Iranian commercial vessels operating near strategic Gulf waterways.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered and will not hesitate in defending the Iranian people with the slightest delay,” the ministry said in a statement.
The accusations add to growing uncertainty surrounding the durability of the truce, particularly as both countries continue to maintain a significant military presence near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit corridor.
Fragile truce faces renewed strain
The ceasefire between Iran and the United States has already faced repeated challenges, with previous exchanges of fire reported even after both sides publicly signaled support for de-escalation.
Analysts say the latest confrontation risks further destabilizing the Gulf region at a time when global markets remain sensitive to any disruption in energy shipping routes.
Neither the Pentagon nor US Central Command immediately responded to Iran’s latest claims regarding the downing of aircraft or alleged airspace violations.
With both nations continuing to trade accusations, the situation remains highly fragile, raising fears that even limited military encounters could spiral into a broader regional confrontation.
