Iran's army claimed on Sunday that its air defence forces shot down and destroyed a US Lucas-type drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. According to sources, the military's public relations department said the drone was hit by Air Defence Force systems operating under the country's integrated air defence network. There was no immediate US response, and the claim could not be independently verified.
The claim came a day after US President Donald Trump said Washington could strike Iran as soon as Sunday, or strike a "big, beautiful" deal with Tehran. "We're thinking about doing it, and maybe tomorrow," he told reporters when asked about a possible attack, adding: "Do you really think I'm going to tell you if I'm going to do it?"
At a campaign rally in Georgia, Trump also said he had to "stop" killing Iranian leaders so he could figure out who the US was negotiating with. He repeated that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon, saying: "I may have to finish it off, or maybe they'll make a deal. But I'm not sure. Either way, we win."
Nearly eight months into the regional conflict, attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and by Houthi forces have also risen, leaving the wider region on edge over a fresh round of US strikes. Read more on Trump's latest threats here.