American forces shot down an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea Tuesday after it “aggressively approached” the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed.
The Shahed-139 aircraft was flying toward the carrier “with unclear intent” when it was shot down by an F-35 fighter jet launched from the USS Lincoln “to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board,” the Qatar-based command said in a statement.
“No American service members were harmed during the incident, and no US equipment was damaged.”
The incident, first reported by Reuters, came as diplomats sought to arrange nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, after President Trump warned that “bad things” would likely happen if a deal could not be reached.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters shortly after the incident that talks between the US and Iran set for Friday in Istanbul “as of right now, are still scheduled.” The American delegation will be led by Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango,” Leavitt said. “You need a willing partner to achieve diplomacy, and that’s something that Special Envoy Witkoff is intent on exploring and discussing.
“As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran as commander in chief. I think they learned that quite well last year with the strike in Operation Midnight Hammer, which was wildly successful and obliterated their nuclear capabilities. But those talks will continue later this week, as far as we’re concerned.”
In a separate incident Tuesday, Iran’s notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to board and seize a US-flagged tanker traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Two IRGC boats and a Mohajer drone contacted the M/V Stena Imperative “at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker,” according to CENTCOM.
In response, the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul escorted the Stena Imperative through the strait with Air Force support.
“CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and ensuring the safety of US personnel, ships, and aircraft in the Middle East,” the military statement concluded.
“Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated. Iran’s unnecessary aggression near US forces, regional partners and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.”
The Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the region last month, the most visible part of a US military buildup following a violent crackdown by Tehran against anti-government demonstrations, the deadliest domestic unrest in Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Trump, who stopped short of carrying out threats to intervene during the crackdown, has since demanded that Tehran make nuclear concessions in addition to sending a flotilla to its coast.
The president said last week that Washington and Tehran were “seriously talking,” while a top Iranian security official, Ali Larijani, said arrangements for negotiations were underway.
With Post wires
