Ankara: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down a US MQ-1 drone Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state-run broadcaster IRIB reported. The incident marks a significant development in the ongoing tension between the United States and Iran in the strategically important waterway.

According to Anadolu Agency, no additional details were immediately available following the report of the drone being shot down. The situation occurred amidst reports of explosions in Iran's southeastern city of Konarak and the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, as relayed by Iran's state-run news agency.

The downing of the drone comes after US President Donald Trump announced that the United States may assume control of operations in the Strait of Hormuz, demanding that other countries contribute financially for the US's protection of this key maritime corridor. In a swift response, Iran's military declared that it "does not and will not allow" US interference in the management of the strait, further escalating the geopolitical tensions in the region.