In a statement carried by the IRGC-affiliated Sepah News website, the Guards said US military aircraft had entered Iranian airspace in the Persian Gulf region, prompting Iranian air defence units to respond.

The statement said the IRGC had “identified and shot down an MQ-9 drone” and had also fired upon an RQ-4 drone and an “intruding” F-35 fighter jet.

The statement did not specify when the incidents took place or whether any of the other aircraft were hit.

Iranian state media separately quoted the IRGC as saying it reserved the “legitimate and definite” right to retaliate against any violations of the ceasefire by the United States.

The developments came as negotiations continued on a possible framework to end the months-long conflict.

Separately, Iran’s judiciary announced the execution of a man convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.

The judiciary’s Mizan Online website said Gholamreza Khani Shakarab had been executed after the Supreme Court upheld his sentence on charges of “intelligence cooperation and espionage in favour of the Zionist regime”.

Mizan described him as “one of the operational ringleaders of Mossad abroad” who had allegedly attempted to recruit individuals inside Iran for “anti-security actions”.