Iran's military said on Sunday that its air defence forces had shot down an American LUCAS attack drone over Bandar Abbas, the strategically important port city overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came as Washington raised the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran, with negotiations between the two countries still unresolved.

The Iranian Army's public relations department said the aircraft was intercepted and destroyed by air defence units operating within the country's integrated air defence network, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The military did not specify when the interception occurred, what weapon was used or whether the drone had been approaching a particular target.

The United States has not confirmed losing an aircraft over Bandar Abbas, and the reported interception remains independently unverified.

LUCAS, short for Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, is a relatively new addition to America's military arsenal. Unlike surveillance drones designed to return after completing their missions, the aircraft is built to deliver an explosive payload directly into a target.

The system was introduced to the region in December 2025, when US Central Command announced the formation of Task Force Scorpion Strike, its first dedicated squadron of one-way attack drones in the Middle East.

CENTCOM described LUCAS as a long-range system capable of autonomous operation and deployment from mobile launchers, catapults and rocket-assisted platforms. American forces subsequently employed the aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign launched against Iran in February.

The reported interception is especially sensitive because of its location. Bandar Abbas houses major Iranian naval facilities and overlooks the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran and Washington remain locked in a confrontation over maritime access.

American military activity in surrounding waters has included strikes against commercial vessels accused of breaching Washington's blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has responded with threats against shipping and regional infrastructure, including reported plans to target undersea communications cables in the event of renewed hostilities.

The drone announcement also followed remarks by US President Donald Trump on Saturday indicating that another military strike against Iran remained possible. Trump left open the prospect of an agreement with Tehran, although the two governments have yet to resolve the disputes preventing a settlement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on Sunday, maintained that arrangements governing navigation through Hormuz could not simply return to their prewar form. Tehran has argued that the conflict has fundamentally altered security conditions around the waterway.

Whether Sunday's reported drone interception represents an attempted American strike cannot be established from the Iranian statement alone. Tehran has not disclosed the aircraft's mission or released independently authenticated evidence establishing its American origin.

Washington's response, particularly any acknowledgement of a LUCAS operation near Bandar Abbas, will be central to determining what occurred over the port city.