Iranian outlets reported on the 29th (local time) that a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) was shot down near the southern city of Bushehr.
Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said a U.S. drone was shot down in Bushehr Province that day. Bushehr is on the Persian Gulf coast in southern Iran and is one of the country's strategic strongholds where nuclear facilities are located.
Earlier, the semi-official Fars News Agency also reported that "the military authorities fired a missile in the south at a specific target," adding that "the exact target has not yet been identified." Iranian outlets said the military shot down the drone by launching a surface-to-air missile.
The United States countered that Iran's claim was not true. U.S. Central Command said on X (formerly Twitter), "No U.S. aircraft have been shot down," adding, "The locations of all U.S. air assets have been confirmed."
As reports surfaced that the United States and Iran were close to a first-phase agreement toward ending the war, Iranian outlets emphasized that the country effectively controls the Strait of Hormuz.
Mehr News Agency reported that the Iranian military fired warning shots at four ships near the Strait of Hormuz. It said the military directly fired blanks to block vessels that tried to pass through the strait without prior notification.
The news came as the United States and Iran had effectively wrapped up talks on a "memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war" and were awaiting final approval from U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. outlet Axios reported that "the United States and Iran have effectively agreed on a draft MOU to extend the cease-fire by 60 days, with only President Trump's final approval remaining." However, Tasnim News Agency, citing a source, denied the report, saying, "The MOU text has not yet been finalized."