Iran Shoots Down US Drone as Trump Says ‘Slowly but Surely’ Nearing Deal With Tehran
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that it shot down a US MQ-1 Predator drone in the Persian Gulf region, marking the third such incident in less than a week, even as President Donald Trump stated that Washington is “slowly but surely” approaching a deal to end the 92-day war with Iran.
Drone Shootdown Escalates Tensions
The IRGC said the drone entered Iranian territorial waters with “the intention of carrying out hostile operations” and was “immediately detected and shot down by air defense missiles,” according to Tribune India/ANI. The incident on May 31 follows the downing of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone by the IRGC on May 26, and the Iranian Army’s shootdown of an “Orbiter” drone over Qeshm Island on May 30.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that American forces “remain present and vigilant across the region” and highlighted sustained carrier readiness operations, as reported by Gulf News.
Trump: ‘Slowly but Surely’ Nearing a Deal
In a Fox News interview on May 30, Trump struck a cautiously optimistic tone about negotiations with Tehran. “We’re close to a very good deal,” Trump said. “If you’re going to be in a hurry, you’re not going to make a good deal, and slowly but surely, we’re getting, I think, what we want — and if we don’t get what we want, we’re going to end it a different way,” according to Xinhua News.
The president outlined his core demands: Iran must agree to never possess nuclear weapons; the Strait of Hormuz must open bidirectionally with no tolls; all mines must be cleared; and Iran’s deep-underground enriched uranium stockpiles must be destroyed.
Tougher Terms on the Table
The New York Times reported that Trump tightened the terms of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran, expressing concerns about frozen asset releases and Iran’s slow response. A “new, tougher proposal” was sent to Iran for consideration, according to Xinhua.
Trump held a two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room on May 29 to discuss ending the war but did not announce any decision afterward. Axios reported that Trump requested multiple modifications to the agreement during that meeting.
Iran’s Position: No Final Consensus
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that information exchange with the US continues but “no final consensus has been reached yet.” Iran firmly rejected Trump’s ultimatum-style language, asserting that it “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Fars news agency reported that Tehran is demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets before moving forward with any diplomatic arrangements — a figure that appears to conflict with Trump’s statement that “no money will be exchanged, until further notice.”
Strait of Hormuz: A Dangerous Flashpoint
Iran reasserted sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz on May 31, declaring that the IRGC Navy will control all traffic “with full authority.” The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that all ships must obtain permission from the IRGC Navy and use designated routes, warning that any violation “will seriously jeopardize the security of their traffic.”
The US military, meanwhile, disabled a Gambian-flagged vessel (M/V Lian Star) heading to Iran by firing a Hellfire missile into its engine room after the crew failed to comply with over 20 warnings about the US blockade, CENTCOM reported.
Analysis: Talk While Fighting
The simultaneous military engagements and diplomatic negotiations reflect a complex “talk while fighting” dynamic. The war, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has entered its 92nd day with no clear resolution in sight.
The drone shootdowns demonstrate that Iran maintains active air defense capabilities despite months of US-Israeli strikes, while Trump’s public optimism about a deal contrasts with his simultaneous tightening of terms. This dual-track approach — escalating military pressure while pursuing diplomatic off-ramps — creates significant uncertainty about the trajectory of negotiations.
What to Watch For
The key questions in the coming days include whether Iran will accept Trump’s tougher MOU terms, whether the $12 billion frozen asset dispute can be resolved, and whether the repeated drone shootdowns will derail negotiations or be treated as separate from the diplomatic track. With oil prices hovering around $91 per barrel after cooling from war-driven highs, global markets are watching closely for signs of a breakthrough or further escalation.