Fresh reports of military activity across southern Iran and the Gulf have surfaced after Tehran claimed its forces intercepted an American drone near Bushehr.
Israeli officials have reportedly discussed the possibility of a surprise Iranian missile and drone attack amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations. (Representative image | Reuters via ANI)
Iran said its air defence systems were activated in the southern province of Bushehr on Thursday night and successfully intercepted an American drone, according to reports carried by the country’s semi-official media outlets.
The development marks the latest escalation in an already volatile situation between Tehran and Washington, with reports emerging of military activity across southern Iran and the strategic waters of the Gulf.
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According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, a military source claimed that Iranian air defence units fired missiles at an “invading” US drone near Bushehr, destroying the aircraft. The report did not provide further operational details.
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Separately, the semi-official Fars news agency reported that Iranian armed forces launched missiles at unspecified targets from southern parts of the country. Some local reports suggested there could have been clashes in Gulf waters, though no independent confirmation was immediately available.
At around the same time, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported that Iranian forces fired warning shots at four vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels were allegedly attempting to cross the key maritime route without prior coordination with Iranian authorities.
The latest incidents came hours after Iranian media reported three explosions east of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
The situation unfolded after several US media outlets reported overnight American strikes on targets inside Iran. According to those reports, the operation targeted a military facility that Washington believed posed a threat to US personnel and commercial shipping operating in the region.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps later said it had launched strikes on a US air base on Thursday morning in retaliation for the attacks on Bandar Abbas.
The renewed military exchanges come despite diplomatic efforts that followed a ceasefire reached on April 8 between Iran, the United States and Israel after 40 days of fighting.
As part of post-ceasefire efforts, Iranian and US delegations held talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12. However, the negotiations ended without a breakthrough.
Earlier this week, Iran reportedly demanded the release of $24 billion in frozen assets during discussions aimed at finding a pathway to end the conflict, according to Tasnim.
In recent weeks, both sides have reportedly exchanged multiple proposals through Pakistani mediation, though no final agreement has been reached so far.
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