"Trump's Response: 'Not My Problem'; IRGC's Response: 'Target Locked.'"

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) dismissed Iran's decision to abandon an interim memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States, saying it made no difference to him and reiterating that Washington's primary objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The remarks came as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran accusing the United States of violating the agreement through continued military operations. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone near the city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province, close to the Iraqi border. Trump Dismisses Iran's Decision Speaking during a brief telephone interview with a U.S. news channel, Trump was asked about Tehran's announcement that it would no longer comply with the interim agreement reached with Washington last month. Responding to the question, Trump said, "I don't care." He emphasized that the United States' overriding goal is to ensure Iran never develops or possesses a nuclear weapon, indicating that this objective outweighs the status of any interim diplomatic arrangement. Rising Dispute Over the Strait of Hormuz Relations between Washington and Tehran have deteriorated further amid a dispute over the management and security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. The interim agreement, reportedly reached in mid-June in Islamabad, was intended to help end the conflict that began earlier this year involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. However, both sides now accuse each other of violating its terms. Iran maintains that continued U.S. military operations constitute a breach of the agreement, while Washington continues to pressure Tehran over regional security concerns and its nuclear program. IRGC Claims to Down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over Ahvaz in Iran's Khuzestan Province. According to the U.S. Air Force, the MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft primarily used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance missions, and precision airstrikes. At the time of the claim, there was no independent confirmation of the reported drone shootdown. U.S. Military Operations Continue The reported incident occurred as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) continued military operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure. According to CENTCOM, the strikes marked the eighth consecutive night of operations against Iranian positions. In a statement posted on X, the command said the latest mission was carried out at approximately 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time on July 18 under the authorization of President Donald Trump. CENTCOM stated that the objective of the operation was to further reduce Iran's capability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran Accuses U.S. of Violating Agreement Reacting to the latest developments, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei strongly criticized the United States, accusing Washington of repeatedly violating agreements reached between the two countries. In a statement shared on X, Khamenei said that repeated violations by what he referred to as the "Great Satan" demonstrated that commitments made by the U.S. President could not be relied upon. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced that Tehran no longer considered itself bound by the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed with Washington last month. He argued that continued U.S. military action represented a breach of American commitments under the agreement. Regional Tensions Continue to Escalate The latest exchange of statements and military claims underscores the growing tensions between the United States and Iran. With diplomatic efforts under strain, military operations continuing, and competing narratives emerging from both sides, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile, carrying significant implications for regional security and international maritime trade.