'Hitting F-35 is not one-off event': Iranian Parliament Speaker claims forces neutralised 180 drones, targeted US stealth jet

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has highlighted what he described as the Islamic Republic's growing military capability, claiming that its forces neutralised around 180 drones and targeted a US F-35 stealth fighter jet.

According to reports by Al Jazeera, citing Iran's Mizan News Agency, Ghalibaf made the remarks while briefing officials on the current status of indirect negotiations with Washington.

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The Speaker said the reported engagement with the advanced stealth aircraft reflected deliberate planning and technical capability."Hitting the F-35 is not a one-off event; it is an operation across various dimensions of technical and design capabilities," Ghalibaf asserted in comments released by the Mizan News Agency, the judiciary's formal media wing.

He added that the incident was meant to signal Iran's progress in defence technology. "The missile that exploded near the F-35 made the enemy realise what capabilities we possess and in what direction we are heading," he said.

These claims follow reports from US military officials last month, who confirmed that an F-35 fighter jet, which had been conducting combat operations over Iran, was forced to carry out an emergency landing at a regional airbase.

CNN, quoting two unidentified sources, previously reported that the aircraft was compelled to land after it was struck by what was suspected to be Iranian fire.

Linking these military developments to the diplomatic sphere, Ghalibaf revealed that while certain areas of consensus have been established in talks with the United States, "major differences" remain on several other issues.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the Speaker indicated that the shift towards diplomacy followed the failure of Western attempts to pressure Tehran through threats. He argued that the transition to indirect dialogue was a direct result of Iran's refusal to yield to international pressure.

"The enemy has not achieved its goals through issuing warnings and setting deadlines, and therefore, has begun sending messages through intermediaries," he stated, noting that the adversarial approach had reached an impasse.

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Addressing the recent cessation of hostilities, Ghalibaf suggested that the motivations behind the truce differed for each side. As reported by Al Jazeera, he claimed that Tehran's agreement was a strategic move to ensure its demands were addressed, while asserting that US President Donald Trump endorsed the ceasefire because "we were the victors on the battlefield".

Furthermore, the Speaker dismissed Washington's long-term objectives regarding the Islamic Republic's political and military structure. He maintained that the American administration had been unable to compromise Iran's defensive posture despite sustained efforts.

"Trump did not achieve his goal of changing the regime and destroying our offensive and missile capabilities, and Iran is not Venezuela," Ghalibaf added, as per the Al Jazeera report.