The United States military says it shot down an Iranian drone after it “aggressively approached” a US aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday.
According to a US Central Command spokesperson, Capt Tim Hawkins, an F-35C stealth fighter jet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln destroyed the drone “in self-defence” to protect the warship and its personnel.
Capt Hawkins said the aircraft carrier was about 500 miles from Iran’s coast when the drone moved toward it with what the US described as “unclear intent.”
No US equipment was damaged and no service members were injured.
The incident comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the US continues to strengthen its military presence in the region.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned of possible military action against Iran if it refuses to negotiate an agreement to restrict its nuclear programme.
However, the White House said diplomatic talks between the two countries are still expected to take place later this week.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Trump remains committed to diplomacy but stressed that “a range of options” remains on the table, including military force.
Iran has not commented publicly on the reported drone shootdown. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously warned that any attack on Iran could trigger a “regional war.”
In a separate development on the same day, the US military also accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of harassing a US-flagged, US-crewed merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
US military support reportedly de-escalated the situation and the ship continued safely.
Reports indicate that US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to represent the White House at the upcoming talks.
While earlier reports suggested the meeting could take place in Istanbul, new information suggests Iran may prefer the venue moved to Oman, with only US and Iranian officials present.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to negotiate with the US, “provided that a suitable environment exists.”
The renewed tensions follow previous US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear-linked sites and military assets, as well as retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran.
Iran continues to insist its nuclear programme is peaceful and denies seeking nuclear weapons.
