US shoots down Iranian drones in Strait of Hormuz as peace deal nears

Drone attack on shipping

On Friday June 12, US military forces shot down multiple Iranian attack drones that were targeting commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command said.

“Iran launched several attack drones aiming to strike commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. US forces shot them all down in recent hours, and maritime traffic in the strait remains smooth.”

The exchange occurred as Washington and Tehran signalled that they were close to a peace deal to end their conflict, which began on 28 February when American and Israeli strikes led Iran to close the strait and the United States to impose a naval blockade.

Trump announces a "very good" agreement

On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that a "very good agreement" had been reached with Iran and that it could be signed in Europe "this weekend" once documents were finalised. He said Vice President JD Vance would attend the ceremony.

“the stock market appreciates this agreement.”

“The probability that this text will be approved by Iran is high.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that modifications were still possible but that the draft accord showed Iran had been strengthened by the conflict.

Substance of the draft

The protocol, outlined by Iranian state media and by Western and Pakistani sources on Friday, provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a lifting of the American naval blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran emphasised that the text also includes the removal of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports and financial transfers, including the unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad.

Subsequent negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme would follow the signing. The disclosure of these terms drew an angry post from Trump calling the information inaccurate, though he later praised Iran's top diplomat.

What comes next

With a signing potentially this weekend, the two sides appear to have moved from battlefield escalation to a diplomatic path. All sources, despite minor differences in accounts, describe an agreement that is largely complete.