Iran Claims It Has Downed US Aircraft; Washington Rejects

Iran claims its air defence systems have downed a US aircraft over Bushehr province, a claim firmly rejected by Washington amidst violations of a proposed 60-day truce.

A 60-day peace deal has reportedly been agreed between the United States and Iran, according to media reports. However, US President Donald Trump has yet to give the accord his final approval. Amidst the diplomatic limbo, ceasefire violations have been reported by both sides, culminating in an Iranian claim that it has shot down a US aircraft.

The Iranian military stated that its air defence systems intercepted and downed an American aircraft late on Thursday night over the town of Jam, located in the Jam county of Bushehr province. According to Iranian state media, the air defence units engaged the aircraft as soon as it was intercepted, neutralizing it with a missile strike.

Washington Rejects Iranian Claims
The United States has firmly denied Tehran's allegations. An official from CENTCOM, the US military’s Central Command unit, issued a statement confirming that no American aircraft had been shot down or damaged.
"All US aircraft are accounted for and safe. There is absolutely no truth to the Iranian claims," the CENTCOM official clarified.

Concerning Escalation in Ceasefire Violations
The ongoing breach of the ceasefire by both nations has sparked significant international concern. Only a few days ago, the US military launched air strikes targeting Iranian missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels. Washington defended the strikes as an act of self-defence, citing an imminent threat to US personnel stationed across the Middle East.

In retaliation, Iran launched four drones targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, all of which were subsequently intercepted and shot down by US forces. The US military responded by executing air strikes and launching multiple missiles at a military base in southern Iran.

Following that engagement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retaliated further by launching air strikes against the Ali Al Salem Air Base, a US military facility located in Kuwait.