By SCM Staff Writer
IRAN’S top diplomat has issued a terrifying warning to the West, boasting that his country’s forces were the first in history to shoot down America’s prize F-35 stealth fighter.
In a fiery statement posted on social media platform X, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claimed that “months after the initiation of war on Iran,” the US has been forced to secretly admit to devastating losses in the skies.
Goading Washington over a recent congressional hearing that exposed the staggering toll of the air campaign, Araghchi claimed the US Congress has finally acknowledged the “loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions.”
In a direct threat to US President Donald Trump and Western allies, the Iranian minister warned that any attempt to restart the bombing campaign would be met with catastrophic consequences.
”With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises,” Araghchi declared.
The chilling warning comes just days after US lawmakers sparked panic in Washington by letting slip the true, eye-watering cost of Operation Epic Fury—the high-intensity air campaign launched against Iran on February 28.
During a fiery Capitol Hill hearing, US Congressman Ed Case stunned onlookers by grilling Pentagon bosses over a massive budget black hole, admitting that America has lost roughly 39 aircraft—including Reaper drones, AV-8B Harriers, and advanced fighter jets—during the intense 39-day conflict.
The Pentagon has previously attempted to downplay the losses, claiming many incidents were down to “accidents” or “friendly fire.”
But Tehran is now using the high-level Washington slip-up to declare a massive propaganda victory.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) previously claimed its advanced, newly upgraded air defence systems successfully locked onto and “completely disintegrated” a US F-35 stealth jet over central Iran.
The multi-billion-dollar F-35 Lightning II is widely considered the most advanced stealth aircraft on the planet, designed to slip past radar completely undetected.
If Iran’s claims of a shootdown are true, it marks a catastrophic security breach for Western air power.
The war originally erupted after a series of devastating, coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes smashed Iranian nuclear infrastructure and missile sites.
While President Trump recently claimed that military objectives were achieved and the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane was reopened, Araghchi’s comments suggest Tehran’s forces are re-armed, dug in, and actively waiting for a second round.
With tensions in the region reaching a boiling point once again, military experts fear Iran’s promised “surprises” could include highly advanced, reverse-engineered electronic warfare systems designed to drop Western warplanes right out of the sky.
