The key facts
- Iranian state television IRIB reported the interception of an MQ-9 over Qeshm Island
- Earlier, local media reported two missiles falling on the island
- Fox News, citing sources, wrote about a possible resumption of the US military campaign on November 9
Statement by the Iranian military
Iranian military officials reported the interception and destruction of an American MQ-9 reconnaissance drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement that an aerial target had been hit was released by the state television channel IRIB on November 7; it was quoted, in particular, by Gazeta.Ru, citing Al Jazeera. According to the statement, as quoted by Life.ru, the army's air defense forces 'intercepted and destroyed a US military MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island, using new systems of the army's Air Force as part of the country's unified air defense system.'
Context: missiles, iodine and reports of an impending strike
The report of the drone's destruction came after publications by Iranian local media about two missiles falling on Qeshm Island; both events occurred against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz area. Earlier, in Iran, iodine tablets began being distributed to residents of areas within a two-to-three-kilometer radius of nuclear facilities — amid fears of a possible American strike. According to Life.ru, particular concern is raised by the underground Pickaxe Mountain complex near Natanz, which could become the target of a new US attack; meanwhile, a video with recommendations on what to do in the event of a nuclear explosion is circulating on Iranian social media.
Reports of a possible US military operation
Fox News, citing sources, reported that the US could resume its military campaign against Iran on November 9: according to senior officials, on November 4–5 Washington was discussing whether to resume the military operation. American journalist Tucker Carlson claimed that a nuclear strike on Iran was possible in early November and named Pickaxe Mountain in the central part of the country as the target, where, according to him citing Israeli intelligence data, the Iranian government had allegedly 'resumed its nuclear enrichment program.' These reports have not been officially confirmed; according to a Telegraph publication quoted by Life.ru, the Iranian side also approached Russia with a request to purchase the S-400. Earlier, on October 27, Putin and Pezeshkian, according to Gazeta.Ru, discussed the situation in the Middle East.
