Iran claims it shot down US LUCAS drone over Bandar Abbas; US does not confirm

TEHRAN: Iran’s army claimed on Sunday, 25 October 2026, that its air defence systems had shot down a US LUCAS-type drone over the southern coastal city of Bandar Abbas.

According to Reuters and Anadolu Agency, the semi-official news agency Tasnim carried the statement, citing the army’s public relations office. It said the drone was destroyed by fire from air defence force systems under the country’s integrated air defence network.

The Iranian army gave no information on the drone’s mission, technical details, wreckage or any casualties. The claim could not be independently verified. The US military has not confirmed it.

The claim came after US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington could attack Iran on Sunday itself, or that a “big, wonderful” deal could be reached with Tehran. There are also reports that he is considering fresh strikes. Trump did not disclose the timing of any action and asked whether Iran would accept a deal.

According to Anadolu, the war between the United States and Iran began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran and grew into a wider regional conflict. Despite agreement on a ceasefire and on finalising a peace deal, the matter remains unresolved.

Tension over the Strait of Hormuz has continued since Washington restored its naval blockade of Iranian ports in July. According to US Central Command, US forces have turned back 138 commercial ships. On 9 October, the Revolutionary Guards warned companies against following US instructions and threatened ships using “unauthorised routes”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war form and that the conflict had created a “new security reality”. He warned that a new attack would lead to an outcome similar to the earlier confrontation, and spoke of a regional security structure without foreign military interference.