Iran Says It Downed Two US Drones Near Bandar Khamir

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it took down two American drones over the coastal area of Bandar Khamir on Tuesday. The IRGC announced the intercepts as part of a broader claim about its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. There was no immediate confirmation of the drone losses from the US side.

The IRGC didn't stop at the drones. It also said three oil tankers traveling through unauthorized routes exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after striking naval mines. It pushed back hard on CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper, saying the real picture in the strait is what Iran is showing, not what the US commander is describing with archived footage. The night before, the IRGC said it had shot down another drone over the strait.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov weighed in Tuesday, saying Moscow made no specific approach to Washington about reports of strikes on Iran after the US midterms. He told a press conference in Minsk the reports remain unconfirmed. Several media outlets have suggested Washington carried out attacks on Iran's Qeshm Island.

Qatar says diplomacy is still alive. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday that talks with the US and Iran have made progress and both sides remain committed to the mediation process, with proposals under study. He voiced hope for a deal that could set up future negotiations, adding that regional and Gulf states agreed to steer clear of escalation.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned Tuesday that Tehran would act if nuclear weapons were used against the country, saying Iran's hands are not tied. He said Iran remains in a state of war after the Qeshm Island attacks, and that messages with Washington are still moving through Qatari mediators. A diplomatic deal, he said, is possible if Iran's conditions are met.

According to Al-Arabiya, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged the military to respond positively to Qatar's proposal to end the Middle East conflict. Qatar's plan reportedly trades Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz for the US lifting its naval blockade. Still, people familiar with the matter say Iran expects the US to resume airstrikes anyway.