Iran has claimed that its air defense forces shot down a US-Israeli military drone over the skies of Tehran before it could begin an operation. The report, published by Tasnim News Agency and citing the Iranian military, stated that the incident occurred amid heightened tensions and ongoing hostilities in the region.

According to the same report, Iran’s air defense system has destroyed a total of 127 advanced enemy drones since the start of the current conflict. Earlier, the Israeli military had announced plans for a new strike on Tehran, while residents in the eastern and western parts of the city reported hearing explosions around the same time.

The incident underscores the continuing escalation between Iran and its adversaries, with both sides reporting increased military activity and aerial engagements over recent weeks.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed responsibility for destroying a key Iranian military installation believed to produce ballistic missiles. According to CENTCOM, the facility, named the Kuh-i Barjamali Ballistic Missile Assembly Facility, was located southeast of Tehran in the Barjamali mountain area. The operation reportedly took place earlier this month.

CENTCOM stated that the destroyed site was used for manufacturing and assembling short-, medium-, and close-range ballistic missiles. The command also released satellite images showing the facility before and after the strike to support its claim. The announcement was made through a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

As of now, Iranian authorities have not issued any official response regarding the alleged attack or the extent of the damage. The report did not specify whether there were any casualties or further military actions planned.

Iran’s air defense forces have claimed to shoot down an F-15 fighter jet near the southern Hormuz Island. The semi-official ISNA, Mehr News, and Anadolu Agency confirmed the report on Sunday, March 22, 2026. According to a statement from Iran’s Joint Air Defense Command, the aircraft allegedly entered Iranian airspace over the southern coastal region and fired a missile moments before being downed. Tehran has not provided details about the aircraft’s origin, the pilot’s fate, or any physical evidence of the wreckage.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following a joint U.S.-Israel military operation across Iran on February 28. That offensive reportedly killed more than 1,300 people, including Iran’s then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched multiple drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets.

The latest claim near Hormuz Island underscores the continuing volatility in the region, though independent verification of Iran’s statement remains unavailable.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a warning that any attack by the United States or Israel on Iran’s power plants would trigger the destruction of key infrastructure across the Gulf region. His statement was made on the social media platform X, according to a BBC Persian report cited by the source.

Ghalibaf stated that all energy and oil facilities in the region would be considered legitimate targets if such an attack occurred. He further cautioned that oil prices could remain elevated for a prolonged period under those circumstances.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and signals potential economic repercussions if hostilities escalate in the Gulf.

Iran is reportedly collecting a $2 million fee from certain ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing war, according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi. He made the claim on Iran’s state television, as reported by the BBC on March 22, 2026. Boroujerdi stated that a 'new governance system' is being implemented in the strait and that 'war has its costs,' describing the move as an expression of Iran’s authority and rights.

The BBC noted that it could not independently verify the lawmaker’s claim. The report did not specify which ships were affected or how the fee was being enforced. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical maritime route for global oil transport.

The lack of verification and details leaves uncertainty about the scope and legitimacy of the reported fee collection, as well as its potential impact on international shipping through the strait.

Iran has remained under a complete internet shutdown since the first day of the ongoing war, which has now reached its 23rd day. According to the internet monitoring group NetBlocks, this marks the longest period of internet disruption in Iran’s history. The blackout has continued without restoration, cutting off digital communication across the country.

Earlier in January, Iran had also imposed internet restrictions during protests, but the current shutdown has surpassed that duration. The report highlights the scale and persistence of the current disconnection, which has drawn attention as a significant record in the country’s digital history.

The extended disruption underscores the severity of the wartime situation and its impact on communication infrastructure, though no official explanation or timeline for restoration has been provided in the report.

The Hormuz Strait, a narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, has become a focal point of global tension after Iran effectively blocked it following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28. The strait lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, serving as one of the world’s busiest oil transport routes.

According to the report, about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically pass through this route, with shipments from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Normally, around 3,000 vessels transit the strait each month, but traffic has dropped sharply as Iran has threatened attacks on tankers and other ships. Since the conflict began, at least 21 vessels have been attacked or targeted.

The disruption has pushed global energy prices higher, with crude oil surpassing 100 dollars per barrel, marking a 70 percent rise this year and 50 percent higher than last year.

Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaei-Nik has issued a confident statement regarding the country’s wartime readiness, responding to US assessments suggesting a decline in Tehran’s defense capabilities. According to Al Jazeera, his remarks were published in Iranian media on March 22, 2026.

Talaei-Nik said that ongoing regional attacks demonstrate Iran’s ability to rely on strategic reserves and domestic production. He highlighted that two decades of investment in missile and drone manufacturing have enabled the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to strike targets with precision and effectiveness. He further noted that IRGC missile and drone operations, along with the use of cruise missiles from coastal and naval units, indicate improved accuracy compared to the early weeks of the conflict.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Talaei-Nik asserted that Iran’s armed forces effectively control and determine the security of the waterway.

Iran’s military has warned that it will strike energy infrastructure linked to the United States and Israel across the Middle East if its power plants come under attack. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and delivered by Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Command. He said Iran would also target desalination plants and information technology infrastructure associated with the two countries.

The warning followed a threat from US President Donald Trump, who said that American forces would attack Iran’s power plants within 48 hours if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened. In response, Iran’s military issued its counter-warning. Separately, Fars News Agency cited the late Ali Larijani, former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who had earlier cautioned that any strike on Iran’s power grid could plunge the entire Middle East into darkness within half an hour.

The exchange of threats underscores rising tensions in the Gulf region, with both sides signaling readiness for escalation over control of key energy and trade routes.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The ultimatum, issued late on March 21, 2026, demands that Iran allow free passage through the key global energy corridor or face severe consequences.

In response, Iran dismissed the threat and issued a counter-warning. The Iranian military, citing Fars News Agency, stated that any attack on Iran’s energy or power infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes on all U.S. and allied energy, information technology, and desalination facilities across the region. Tehran reaffirmed its earlier warnings that any violation of its infrastructure would be met with a broad regional response.

The exchange of threats has heightened tensions in the Gulf, where the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global oil shipments. The situation underscores the fragility of regional stability and the potential for escalation if diplomatic channels fail to ease the standoff.

According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, an Iranian official announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open to all types of vessels, provided that adequate security and safety are ensured. However, ships connected to what Iran defines as 'enemy' countries will not be granted this access. The statement was made by Ali Mousavi, Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Mousavi attributed the current disruption of this vital oil transport route to the 'aggression' of the United States and Israel. He emphasized that diplomacy remains Iran’s top priority, but achieving it requires a complete end to aggression and the rebuilding of mutual trust and confidence.

The announcement underscores Iran’s conditional approach to maritime access in the region, linking navigation rights to political and security considerations amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf.

Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Ali Mousavi, stated that foreign vessels can continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian government for security and safety reasons. Mousavi, who also serves as Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, told Mehr News Agency that while Iran will uphold its international obligations, other nations must also respect Iran’s regional integrity and rights.

He added that Iran is ready to cooperate with the IMO and other countries to enhance maritime safety and protect sailors. Mousavi emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to Iran’s enemies. He further claimed that the current situation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz stems from the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

The statement highlights Iran’s attempt to balance international maritime cooperation with its stance against adversarial nations, amid heightened regional instability.

United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran’s power plants will be “obliterated” if Tehran fails to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days. The threat came as Israel launched new attacks on Tehran, with explosions reported in the eastern part of the Iranian capital. The developments mark the 23rd day of the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

In response, Iran has continued its retaliatory strikes against Israel and other regional countries. Nearly 100 people were reported injured after Iranian missiles hit towns near an Israeli nuclear facility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as “a very difficult evening in the battle for our future,” following strikes on the towns of Arad and Dimona.

The escalating exchanges highlight the deepening conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a critical flashpoint in the confrontation.

The joint US-Israel war against Iran has entered its fourth week, with over 1,400 people reported killed in Iran, including 204 children. Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at US and Israeli bases, warning Western and Gulf nations that global shipping and energy infrastructure are at risk. Millions of Iranians marked Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz under the shadow of war, while explosions were reported in Tehran and nearby areas.

The United States has said it is considering a gradual de-escalation but not a ceasefire, and the United Kingdom has allowed its bases to be used for strikes on Iran. Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward the US-UK base in Diego Garcia and warned that British citizens could be endangered. Gulf states including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, while Israel faced multiple attacks causing damage across central and northern regions.

The conflict has driven Brent crude prices to $112.19 per barrel, raising fears of a global economic slowdown. The US has partially eased sanctions on Iranian oil to stabilize supply, though Tehran denied having extra oil to sell. Maritime authorities warned that threats in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz remain extremely severe.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will attack Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The warning was issued through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated that the strikes would begin with Iran’s largest power facility. The report was published by Al Jazeera and cited by Amar Desh Online on March 22, 2026.

Analysts believe the threat could further complicate the already tense situation in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global energy supplies, carrying a significant share of the world’s oil shipments. Any disruption or escalation around this strategic waterway could have major consequences for the global economy.

The ultimatum adds new uncertainty to regional stability, as tensions involving Iran, the United States, and neighboring countries continue to rise.