U.S. forces have shot down an Iranian drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 3, amid a sharp rise in regional tensions.
A U.S. official reported the engagement to Reuters.
According to available reports, an Iranian Shahed-139 drone was heading toward the carrier strike group. A U.S. F-35 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept the target and successfully destroyed the threat.
This episode was part of a series of dangerous events in the region. Almost simultaneously, a drama unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz involving an attempted seizure of a commercial vessel. According to maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, six Iranian military gunboats armed with heavy machine guns attempted to stop the U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Imperative.
The Iranians ordered the crew to cut their engines and prepare to be boarded. However, the tanker's captain refused to comply, sharply increased speed, and radioed for assistance. A U.S. warship arriving at the scene managed to secure the vessel.
The military escalation comes just days before potential diplomatic talks. As reported by Axios, a meeting is scheduled for Friday in Istanbul between White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The parties are attempting to discuss reviving the nuclear deal, but their positions remain far apart. Washington insists on expanding the terms of the agreement.
"We demand that the agreement include not only the nuclear program but also missile development and the activities of regional proxies," sources in the U.S. administration noted.
Tehran, in turn, is willing to discuss only the nuclear issue. Abbas Araghchi has already warned Western partners about the limits of possible compromise.
"Iran is ready for diplomacy, but it is incompatible with pressure, intimidation, and the use of force," the Iranian minister stated.
Before his visit to Turkey, U.S. representative Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel for consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as hold talks in the UAE and Qatar.
