Around five explosions were reported in Iran’s Qeshm Island during the late hours of Monday; blasts were also heard in the nearby city of Bandar Lengeh, the Iranian state media said. The report also mentioned that two aircraft were spotted flying in the sky.
The explosions came shortly after US President Donald Trump indicated that a deal with Tehran could be within reach, adding to uncertainty over the situation in the region. The developments also come on the eve of the US midterm elections. Sharing a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said a deal "could happen". He added that "Iran wants a settlement as soon as possible."
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The reports surfaced amid heightened tensions following claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force that it had shot down three US drones near the Strait of Hormuz, including what it described as the 55th MQ-9 military drone.
Iran Claims Fresh US Drone Interceptions
The reports came in as tensions heightened in Tehran following claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force that it intercepted three US drones near the Strait of Hormuz, including what it described as the 55th MQ-9 military drone. The Iranian Press said that the IRGC also claimed that two US MQM-170 reconnaissance drones were shot south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare technology. The alleged interceptions brought the total number of captured drones of this model to four, the broadcaster reported.
As per the media reports, the IRGC Aerospace Force stated that it also intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran Ties Reopening Hormuz With Concessions
An Iranian official signalled that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the next two days, provided Washington agrees to a series of conditions put forward by Iran. The waterway serves as a crucial export route for energy supplies from the oil-rich Gulf region. "The possibility of executing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran's good-faith approach," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters during a briefing.
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Earlier in September, Iran presented a seven-day proposal, offering to restore access to the strait in exchange for several concessions from the United States. These included ending hostilities across all fronts, releasing frozen Iranian assets, removing oil-related sanctions and lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports.
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