Diplomatic visits intensify to avert return to US-Iran war as IRGC claims drone shot down

TEHRAN — Regional and international states stepped up diplomacy on Monday and Tuesday to prevent a return to full-scale war between the United States and Iran, according to The New Arab, as Iran reported shooting down a US drone.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday. The statement, carried by Iranian state media, said an advanced air defence system run by the IRGC's aerospace force carried out the strike. Middle East Eye relayed the claim. The US had not commented in the material reviewed, and the claim has not been independently verified.

Russian and Pakistani visits

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hosted his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Iran on Monday. It was Lavrov's first visit since the conflict began, according to The New Arab.

Araghchi wrote on X on Tuesday that the two sides had discussed a wide range of issues. "We covered everything from Europe to West Asia, including Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine and Yemen. Also focused on expansion of economic and nuclear cooperation," he wrote. He added: "Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now."

Lavrov said before the trip that Moscow's efforts were "aimed at preventing the return of a large-scale war." He made the remark as talks between the United States and Iran remain stalled, The New Arab reported. The outlet said Moscow is seeking a mediating role in the Middle East war.

Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, is due to arrive in Tehran on Tuesday, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. The New Arab cited that report. The source material does not say what Munir is expected to discuss.

The New Arab's report said diplomatic activity has "significantly intensified" as regional and international states try to head off renewed fighting. The source text is cut off after a reference to a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart. The content of that exchange is not available.

Trump criticises Nato allies

US President Donald Trump criticised Nato allies over the war on Iran, saying they "weren't there to help" Washington. Middle East Eye reported his comments, which he made at a campaign rally.

"We stand with Europe despite its flaws, its weaknesses…But if they don't soon find their way, and they have to find their way, we will have no choice but to leave," Trump said, according to Middle East Eye. The report does not specify what he meant by leaving.

Hegseth in Israel

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, according to Axios, as cited by Middle East Eye. Axios said the Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment. Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the report. Only Axios has reported the visit in the material reviewed, and neither government has confirmed it.

Local sources also reported Israeli fighter jets over southern and eastern Syria, and over Muthanna governorate in southern Iraq, according to Middle East Eye. Those reports have not been confirmed by Israeli authorities in the source material.

Yemen and Saudi Arabia

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they carried out several attacks on Saudi energy, airport and military targets. They named an Aramco site in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha airport, according to The New Arab.

There was no immediate Saudi confirmation, and Reuters could not immediately verify the claims, The New Arab reported.

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen warned the Houthis against smuggling weapons, missiles and military equipment by boat, Middle East Eye reported. The coalition's Joint Forces Command said such actions threaten security in Yemen and beyond. It urged boat owners not to cooperate with the group.

What is unconfirmed

Several claims remain unverified. The IRGC's account of the drone shootdown comes from Iranian state media. The Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi sites have not been confirmed by Saudi Arabia or independently checked. Hegseth's visit rests on a report by Axios, and the Israeli jet sightings come from unnamed local sources.

Background

The New Arab describes the confrontation as the US-Israel war on Iran. The sources do not give the start date of the war, its toll, or the terms of any ceasefire. They say only that talks between Washington and Tehran are stalled and that diplomats are trying to prevent a return to large-scale fighting.

The Strait of Hormuz, where the IRGC says the drone was downed, is named in the reports but they give no further detail on the incident's location or circumstances.

The New Arab also reported that Trump has endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections. It said Palestinians in Gaza view the endorsement as a sign that US pressure on Israel will not increase. That reaction is the outlet's account of Palestinian views and is not linked in the sources to the Iran diplomacy.