US Says Downed Multiple Iran Drones as Both Insist Deal Is Closer Than Ever
DUBAI/WASHINGTON/TEHRAN — The United States said it shot down several Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday, just hours after both Washington and Tehran claimed a deal to end the Middle East war was closer than ever.
US Central Command posted on X that Iran “launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships” in the strategic waterway. “US forces have downed all of them,” the statement added, noting that traffic flow through the strait continued unimpeded despite an Iranian‑enforced blockade that has been in place since the war began.
The interception came after weeks of stop‑start talks mediated by Pakistan, marked by threats and exchanges of fire despite a fragile truce agreed in April.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media that “the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer.” President Donald Trump — who on Friday accused Tehran of negotiating in bad faith — posted a screenshot of Araghchi’s message hours later.
In an interview with state television, Araghchi said the proposed arrangement would lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and give Iran, together with Oman, control over traffic through the strait. On Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, he said Tehran’s preferred solution is to “dilute it inside Iran,” rejecting any dismantlement of nuclear infrastructure.
Despite the optimism, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said no final conclusion had been reached, accusing the US of repeatedly shifting its positions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, meanwhile, declared that Iran had emerged “stronger and more capable than ever” and warned that any threat to the strait would carry serious consequences.
Oil prices fell more than 3 percent as traders weighed the prospect of the strait eventually reopening, though significant differences remain over uranium, sanctions relief, and the broader terms of a final settlement.
Also Read:
How Indian Workers Are Teaching AI Robots Skills That Could Replace Them
Iran War Triggers Historic Economic Shock Across the Middle East
