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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it shot down a US MQ-9 drone as it flew over the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media. The incident marks the latest flashpoint in ongoing military tensions between Tehran and Washington in the Gulf region, though the US has not yet commented officially.
The US has conducted an airstrike on Iran's Larak Island, the first since late July, targeting launch pads near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's IRGC confirmed casualties and vowed retaliation, raising fears of renewed military escalation.
Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaei, a former IRGC commander, as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council amid escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts see the move as a strategic signal, whether to bolster Tehran's hardline stance or to facilitate potential diplomatic deals with domestic hardliners.
Iran has turned control over the Strait of Hormuz into a powerful economic weapon against the US and Israel, with shipping traffic down about 96% from normal levels, but the tool has clear limits. Prolonged use could hurt Iran's own economy, push Asian partners away, and accelerate investments that reduce global dependence on the strait.
US President Donald Trump announced he has canceled plans for a large-scale military attack on Iran, asserting that the parties have agreed on the 'outlines of a deal.' The decision follows requests from Iran and several Middle Eastern countries, and Trump said the deal would include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.
Iran's IRGC Navy has warned ships against using an alternate Strait of Hormuz route, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with GCC leaders in Bahrain to assure them of Washington's commitment to their security amid nuclear talks with Iran. Tensions remain high in Lebanon despite a ceasefire, with an Israeli airstrike killing two in Nabatieh.
Iran condemned US airstrikes on Hormozgan province as a 'gross violation' of the ceasefire, with a Revolutionary Guard commander vowing a swift response. The attacks come as both sides were making progress in Doha peace talks. The US insists the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened 'one way or another.'
