Iran's Tasnim News Agency published what it said were exclusive images on April 3 of a US fighter jet shot down over central Iran by IRGC air defences.

Iran has claimed several strikes against US and Israeli jets and drones over the last month, however, this is the first time photos of a downed jet have been photographed on the ground. 

The Iranian agency, which is linked to the IRGC, said markings on the aircraft's tail identified it as belonging to the 48th Fighter Wing of US European Command, based at RAF Lakenheath in Britain.

The squadron had been redeployed to the US Central Command area of operations for the Iran campaign, Taheri said.

The claim could not be independently verified. The US military did not immediately comment.

Iran has made multiple claims of downing US aircraft and drones since the war began on February 28, though independent confirmation has been extremely difficult given the internet blackout and restricted media access.

If confirmed, the loss of a manned fighter jet would mark a significant escalation in US casualties. The Pentagon's most recent official count put losses at 13 killed and 348 wounded.

The downing of a combat aircraft from a UK-based squadron would also raise political questions in Britain, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly said: "This is not our war."

RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk hosts the US Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing, which operates F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning II jets.

The base is the largest US Air Force installation in England and a key staging point for US operations in Europe and the Middle East.

Italy secretly blocked two US F-15s from landing at its Sigonella base in Sicily after the jets were already airborne on a combat mission against Iran. Austria, Spain and Switzerland have also restricted US military access to their airspace or bases.

In addition to this, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters said on April 2 that the country's air defences had shot down four hostile drones in the previous 24 hours, including an MQ-9 Reaper over Shiraz.