Tehran: Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, signalling an imminent escalation in the ongoing conflict and dismissing threats made by President Donald Trump regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz within the deadline he posted. A senior Iranian security official indicated that both the US and Israel should expect a major development soon, asserting that only a limited time remains before the situation intensifies further.
Trump had warned on his social media platform, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them."
Iranian officials claimed that military operations are progressing according to strategic objectives, rejecting US assertions of success as baseless. They pointed to losses suffered by American forces, including aircraft, as evidence of what they described as the failure of US military actions. Officials also stated that Iran has developed the capability to significantly disrupt opposing forces.
In a major escalation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported shooting down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the central city of Isfahan. The drone, known for long-range and mid-altitude operations, was reportedly brought down during active hostilities.
At the same time, Trump claimed that a powerful US airstrike in Tehran eliminated several high-ranking Iranian military officials, sharing visuals of a massive explosion to support the assertion. The claim adds to the rapidly intensifying war narrative from both sides.
Iran further claimed it inflicted a major blow by downing two advanced US warplanes in a single day. Among them was a US F-15E fighter jet reportedly targeting key installations in central Iran. While one crew member was rescued, another remains missing, with both sides attempting to locate the pilot.
Additionally, Iran reported shooting down a US A-10 Warthog near the Strait of Hormuz, with the pilot ejecting. Search operations for missing personnel were also reportedly targeted. Iranian officials attributed these actions to their domestically developed ‘Majid’ air defence system, underscoring their expanding military capabilities in the conflict.