Tehran Reports 54th US Drone Intercepted Over Southern Iran

Tehran, October 25: Iran's military has said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a US drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Sunday, marking what it described as the 54th such drone stopped in recent months.

The army made the claim in a statement published on its official website. It said the drone was brought down by its air defence network.

Earlier this week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps made a similar claim, saying its air defence units had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest incidents come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may launch another military campaign against Tehran unless the two sides reach a deal. Although Trump has argued that Iran has been defeated, his remarks show that the US is still keeping military force as an option.

Addressing a Republican election rally in Fort Myers, Florida, on Friday, Trump said, "We could do another little Epic Fury campaign, or they could agree to a deal. If they are smart, they will say, let's get to work."

He did not outline the conditions that Iran would have to meet to prevent a renewed military campaign. Trump has insisted that the US is pressing Tehran to accept an agreement that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

"We have beaten them militarily, economically and on every other front, and we are making sure the job gets done," Trump said.

Meanwhile, a senior US intelligence official has warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran has significantly increased its efforts to target American officials. According to the official, some deadly plots have reached an advanced phase.

The warning comes at a time when Washington is pulling its diplomats out of Saudi Arabia and reducing staffing at US embassies in several other regional countries.