February 3, 2026
The United States military claimed it shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday after it approached the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, according to statements cited by Reuters.
A US official told Reuters that the drone — identified as an Iranian Shahed-139 — was flying toward the carrier when it was intercepted and destroyed by a US F-35 fighter jet. The aircraft was reportedly launched from the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
US Central Command later confirmed the incident, saying the drone was approaching “with unclear intent” and that the strike was carried out in self-defense to protect US personnel and assets. No injuries or damage were reported.
Incident in the Strait of Hormuz
Hours later, a separate maritime incident unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.
According to Reuters, six Iranian armed boats approached the M/V Stena Imperative, a US-flagged oil tanker, and ordered it to stop. US officials said the Iranian vessels withdrew after a US warship escorted the tanker away.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that multiple small armed boats attempted to intercept a commercial vessel approximately 30 kilometers north of Oman. The ship ignored radio requests to halt and continued along its route.
A maritime risk assessment group, Vanguard Maritime Risk Management, said the tanker did not enter Iranian territorial waters and remained under US naval protection throughout the encounter.
Iran Denies Hostile Action
Iranian officials rejected Western accounts of the incident. The Fars News Agency quoted unnamed Iranian sources stating that a vessel had briefly entered Iranian waters without authorization but left following a warning “without any security incident.”
Iranian authorities later described claims of harassment or interception as “false,” denying that any confrontation took place.
Rising Military Pressure, Parallel Diplomacy
The incidents come amid an expanding US military buildup in the region, centered on the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. US President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” could happen if nuclear talks with Iran fail.
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic channels reportedly remain active. US and Iranian officials have both acknowledged that preparations are underway for renewed nuclear negotiations, potentially to be held in Istanbul.
Iranian officials maintain that US sanctions, political pressure, and military deployments are aimed at destabilizing the country and paving the way for regime change — an accusation Washington denies.
Iran has warned that any attack on its territory or forces would prompt what it calls a “comprehensive and unprecedented” response.
Iran has seized several foreign-linked vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz in recent years — two in 2023 and one in 2024 — often following US actions against oil tankers associated with Tehran. The Strait remains a focal point of global energy security and military tension.
The US claimed
it downed an Iranian drone near its carrier as naval tensions escalated across
key Gulf waterways.
Key Developments
- A US fighter jet reportedly shot down an Iranian drone near the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
- Iranian armed boats approached a US-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
- US officials said the tanker was escorted away without boarding or seizure.
- Iran denied any hostile incident, calling Western reports inaccurate.
- The incidents come amid heightened US military deployment and renewed nuclear diplomacy efforts.
The United States military claimed it shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday after it approached the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, according to statements cited by Reuters.
A US official told Reuters that the drone — identified as an Iranian Shahed-139 — was flying toward the carrier when it was intercepted and destroyed by a US F-35 fighter jet. The aircraft was reportedly launched from the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
US Central Command later confirmed the incident, saying the drone was approaching “with unclear intent” and that the strike was carried out in self-defense to protect US personnel and assets. No injuries or damage were reported.
Incident in the Strait of Hormuz
Hours later, a separate maritime incident unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.
According to Reuters, six Iranian armed boats approached the M/V Stena Imperative, a US-flagged oil tanker, and ordered it to stop. US officials said the Iranian vessels withdrew after a US warship escorted the tanker away.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that multiple small armed boats attempted to intercept a commercial vessel approximately 30 kilometers north of Oman. The ship ignored radio requests to halt and continued along its route.
A maritime risk assessment group, Vanguard Maritime Risk Management, said the tanker did not enter Iranian territorial waters and remained under US naval protection throughout the encounter.
Iran Denies Hostile Action
Iranian officials rejected Western accounts of the incident. The Fars News Agency quoted unnamed Iranian sources stating that a vessel had briefly entered Iranian waters without authorization but left following a warning “without any security incident.”
Iranian authorities later described claims of harassment or interception as “false,” denying that any confrontation took place.
Rising Military Pressure, Parallel Diplomacy
The incidents come amid an expanding US military buildup in the region, centered on the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. US President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” could happen if nuclear talks with Iran fail.
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic channels reportedly remain active. US and Iranian officials have both acknowledged that preparations are underway for renewed nuclear negotiations, potentially to be held in Istanbul.
Iranian officials maintain that US sanctions, political pressure, and military deployments are aimed at destabilizing the country and paving the way for regime change — an accusation Washington denies.
Iran has warned that any attack on its territory or forces would prompt what it calls a “comprehensive and unprecedented” response.
Iran has seized several foreign-linked vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz in recent years — two in 2023 and one in 2024 — often following US actions against oil tankers associated with Tehran. The Strait remains a focal point of global energy security and military tension.
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