Iran Claims It Shot Down a 16th US MQ-1 Drone Over Qeshm Island as Gulf Tensions Rise
Iran says its air defences have shot down another American military drone over the Strait of Hormuz — the second such claim in three days, and the latest sign that the eight-month-old war between the United States and Iran is still escalating, even as mediators push for a ceasefire.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Friday 6 November that its air defence system had intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island, the large Iranian island that sits in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IRGC, it was the 16th MQ-1 drone brought down since the war began in late February 2026.
The United States has not confirmed the claim. What is not in dispute is that the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which a large share of the world’s seaborne oil travels — has become the most dangerous stretch of water on the planet, and that the past week has been one of its worst.
What happened
Iranian state media reported on Friday afternoon that the IRGC’s air defence system, operating under Iran’s integrated air defence network, had detected, tracked and destroyed a US MQ-1 reconnaissance-combat drone over Qeshm Island.
The IRGC said the drone belonged to the US military. Its statement did not say what time the incident happened, or what kind of missile was used.
Reuters also reported the claim on Friday, citing Iranian media and the IRGC. The US military had not issued a public response at the time of writing.
This was not the first such announcement of the week. Just two days earlier, on Wednesday 4 November, the IRGC said it had shot down the 15th MQ-1 drone over the same island. The two claims, taken together, mean Iran says it has now destroyed two American MQ-1 drones in three days, both over Qeshm.
The week’s drone war in numbers
The MQ-1 claims are part of a much larger pattern of claims and counter-claims about drones over the Strait of Hormuz this week:
- Wednesday 4 November: Iran says it downs the 15th US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island.
- Thursday 5 November: The IRGC says its Aerospace Force grounded a fifth and sixth MQM-170 drone south of Qeshm Island, using electronic warfare systems rather than missiles. That would bring the total number of MQM-170 drones Iran says it has captured to six.
- Friday 6 November: Iran says it downs the 16th US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island.
- Saturday 7 November: Iranian state media says an MQ-9 drone was also shot down over Qeshm Island, although details of that claim remain thin.
The IRGC has also claimed the destruction of a 55th MQ-9 Reaper drone east of the Strait of Hormuz. All of these figures come from Iran, and none has been independently confirmed. The United States has not confirmed any of the losses, and has previously denied at least one Iranian drone claim — on 2 November, Washington denied Tehran’s claim that it had destroyed an American sea drone in the Strait of Hormuz.
That does not mean the claims are false. It means they are unverified, and they should be treated as claims, not facts, until there is independent evidence. What the claims do show, beyond doubt, is that Iran wants the world to believe its air defences are working — and that American drones are flying over or near Qeshm Island often enough for these incidents to keep happening.
The MQM-170 is a smaller, cheaper drone than the MQ-1, made by the American company Griffon Aerospace and used for reconnaissance. Iran says it has been bringing these drones down with electronic warfare, jamming their signals or taking control of them, rather than shooting them out of the sky.
A seafarer killed in the Gulf
The drone claims came in the same week as the first confirmed death of a civilian seafarer in the Gulf in this phase of the war.
One seafarer was killed in an explosion, believed to have been caused by a missile attack, on the oil products tanker MT Velos Sapphire in the Gulf, the ship’s manager said on Friday. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, managed by the Greek firm Velos Tankers, was sailing empty towards Bahrain when it was hit.
The seafarer was first reported missing after the blast, and was later found fatally injured on board. No other crew members were hurt. The crew put out the fire caused by the explosion, and there were no reports of pollution. The vessel was taken to Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port, and an investigation will be launched. The extent of the damage to the hull was still being assessed.
The timing of the attack is slightly unclear. The ship’s manager placed it on Thursday, while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) recorded it at 23:20 GMT on Wednesday 4 November, about 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal in Qatar.
No government or armed group has been confirmed as responsible for the attack on the tanker. But it is the latest in a string of attacks on ships in the Gulf. Iran said on Thursday that five tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines, and UKMTO data shows at least 35 attacks on shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in October.
For the men and women who crew the tankers that pass through the strait, the danger is no longer theoretical. A seafarer has now been killed, and shipping companies and insurers are watching the waterway with growing alarm.
What is the MQ-1 Predator?
The MQ-1 Predator is the drone at the centre of Iran’s claims. It is worth understanding what it is, because it explains why both sides care so much about it.
The MQ-1 is an unmanned aircraft built by the American company General Atomics. It is flown remotely by a pilot at a control station, sometimes thousands of kilometres away. It can stay in the air for more than 24 hours, sending back live video, and it can also carry weapons, including Hellfire missiles.
In simple terms, it is a flying camera that can also shoot. The United States has used it for surveillance and targeted strikes for more than two decades.
That long flying time is exactly what makes it useful over the Strait of Hormuz. A single MQ-1 can watch a large area of sea for a full day, tracking ships and feeding information back to American commanders.
From Iran’s point of view, shooting one down is both a military success and a message: its air defences can reach American aircraft, and flying over Iranian territory carries a price.
Why Qeshm Island matters
Qeshm Island is the largest island in the Persian Gulf. It sits in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel between Iran and Oman that connects the Gulf to the open sea. The strait is only about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, and it is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. A large share of the oil shipped by sea passes through it, on its way from the Gulf states to Asia, Europe and beyond.
Qeshm’s position makes it strategically vital. From the island, Iran can watch — and, if it chooses, threaten — almost every ship that enters or leaves the Gulf. The island is home to Iranian military bases, and it has been a focus of American attention throughout the war. On 2 November, US officials confirmed that American forces had carried out airstrikes on Qeshm Island.
That is why the drone claims keep coming from the same place. American drones fly over Qeshm because it is where the action is, and Iranian air defences are concentrated there for the same reason.
The mediation track: Pakistan at the centre
While the shooting continues, so does the talking — and Pakistan is at the centre of it.
Pakistan’s military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said last week, in an interview with Reuters on 30 October, that Pakistan was “cautiously optimistic” about mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, as regional countries try to revive a ceasefire in the eight-month-old war.
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited Tehran twice in October, most recently on Monday 26 October, alongside Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Their countries signed a joint defence pact with Pakistan on 7 August — the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement — which says an attack on any signatory will be treated as an attack on all.
Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday. Dar stressed the importance of “sustained dialogue and diplomacy” and said all parties needed to remain “constructively engaged” in efforts to resolve regional tensions.
Qatar is also deeply involved. The Qatari Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone on Friday to discuss mediation efforts. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday that Iran had submitted a proposal on its nuclear programme to the United States through Qatar, and that Tehran was reviewing a specific nuclear proposal put forward by the mediating countries.
Mr Trump chaired a National Security Council meeting at the White House on Iran on Wednesday 5 November, and said afterwards that a decision on whether to take further military action against Iran would come soon.
Iraq, meanwhile, told Mr Trump on Thursday that its territory would not be used to attack its neighbours — a reminder that every country in the region is trying to avoid being dragged further into the war.
Why this matters
The drone claims matter for four reasons.
First, they show the war is not winding down. Two MQ-1 claims in three days, plus the MQM-170 and MQ-9 claims, suggest the air war over the Strait of Hormuz is intensifying, not easing — even as mediation efforts continue. Wars often get worse before they get better, as each side tries to improve its position before talks begin.
Second, the danger to shipping is real and growing. More than 35 incidents in the strait in October, a seafarer killed this week, tankers on fire, mines in the water — this is no longer a war fought only between soldiers. If the attacks continue, insurers will raise their prices, some shipping companies may avoid the strait altogether, and the cost of oil will rise.
Third, the claims are a test of credibility. Iran says it has now destroyed 68 American drones. The United States has confirmed none of them. The gap between the two sides’ accounts makes it harder for the public, in any country, to know what is really happening.
Fourth, the timing matters. The claims come just as mediation is gathering pace and Mr Trump says a decision on further military action is coming soon. Every incident in the Gulf makes a ceasefire harder to reach and a wider war easier to start.
What happens next
Several things will decide what happens next.
The first is whether the United States responds to the drone claims. So far, Washington has said nothing. If it confirms the loss, that would strengthen Iran’s account. If it denies it, as it did with the sea drone claim on 2 November, the argument will continue.
The second is what Mr Trump decides. He has said a decision on further military action is coming soon. A decision to strike would almost certainly lead to more Iranian retaliation and more danger for shipping. A decision to hold off would open the door to a ceasefire.
The third is the nuclear proposal. Iran has submitted a proposal to the United States through Qatar, and is reviewing one from the mediators. If the two sides can find common ground on the nuclear issue, a ceasefire becomes much more likely. If they cannot, the war is likely to continue.
The fourth is the sea. The Strait of Hormuz is now the most dangerous waterway in the world. The question is whether the attacks on shipping continue, or whether the two sides can agree to keep the waterway safe even while the war goes on elsewhere.
For now, the drones keep flying, the claims keep coming, and the seafarers keep sailing through one of the most dangerous stretches of water on Earth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MQ-1 drone?
The MQ-1 Predator is an American unmanned aircraft built by General Atomics. It is flown remotely, can stay in the air for more than 24 hours, and is used for surveillance and strikes. It can carry Hellfire missiles.
Where is Qeshm Island?
Qeshm Island is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, sitting in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which a large share of the world’s seaborne oil passes.
How many US drones does Iran claim to have shot down?
Iran says it has shot down 16 MQ-1 drones since the war began in late February 2026, and claims 68 American MQ-1 and MQ-9 drones in total. These figures come from Iran and have not been independently confirmed.
Has the US confirmed the latest claim?
No. There was no immediate confirmation from the United States about the 6 November MQ-1 claim.
What happened to the tanker Velos Sapphire?
The Marshall Islands-flagged oil products tanker was hit by an explosion, believed to have been caused by a missile attack, while sailing empty towards Bahrain. One seafarer was killed, and the ship was taken to Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port.
Who is mediating between the US and Iran?
Qatar is leading mediation, with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye also involved. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited Tehran twice in October.
Conclusion
Iran’s claim that it shot down a 16th American MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island is, on its own, an unverified claim in a war full of them. The United States has not confirmed it.
But the claim still matters, because of when and where it comes. It comes in the same week as a seafarer was killed on a tanker in the Gulf, as tankers caught fire after hitting mines, and as more than 35 incidents were recorded in the Strait of Hormuz in a single month. It comes as Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye work to revive a ceasefire, and as the American president says a decision on further military action is coming soon.
The war in the Gulf is being fought in the air, at sea, and at the negotiating table, all at the same time. Which of the three wins out — the shooting, the dying, or the talking — will decide what happens next.
Sources
- Press TV, “IRGC shoots down 16th US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island”, 6 November 2026 — https://www.presstv.co.uk/Detail/2026/11/06/780102/irgc-iran-shoots-down-16th-us-mq-1-drone-over-qeshm-island
- Press TV, “IRGC downs 15th advanced US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island”, 4 November 2026 — https://www.presstv.co.uk/Detail/2026/11/04/779951/irgc-downs-15th-advanced-us-mq-1-drone-over-qeshm-island
- Press TV, “IRGC grounds fifth and sixth US MQM-170 drones over Qeshm Island”, 6 November 2026 — https://www.presstv.co.uk/Detail/2026/11/06/780060/irgc-grounds-fifth-and-sixth-us-mqm-170-drones-over-qeshm-island
- Reuters (via Devdiscourse), “Iran says it downed US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island”, 6 November 2026 — https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/4002819-iran-says-it-downed-us-mq-1-drone-over-qeshm-island
- Reuters (via gCaptain), “Seafarer Killed in Suspected Missile Attack on Tanker in Gulf”, 6 November 2026 — https://gcaptain.com/seafarer-killed-in-suspected-missile-attack-on-tanker-in-gulf/
- AFP (via Pakistan TV live blog), “Sailor killed in Gulf as Iran says tankers on fire”, 6 November 2026 — https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-november-6-2026
- The News, “Pakistan ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Iran-US war mediation, ISPR DG cites ‘positivity'”, 30 October 2026 — https://www.thenews.pk/story/1445927-ispr-dg-signals-positivity-in-pakistans-efforts-to-mediate-iran-us-war
- Nmkhabar English, “Iran claims downing US MQ-1 and MQ-9 drones over Qeshm Island”, 7 November 2026 — https://nmkhabar.com/en/iran-claims-downing-us-drones-qeshm-island/
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
