February4, 2026
“The unmanned aircraft aggressively approached” the carrier, said CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins.
“The Iranian [Shahed 139] drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters,” he went on to say, adding that an F-35C Lightning II shot it down.
“No American service members were harmed during the incident, and no U.S. equipment was damaged.”
CENTCOM also said that two Iranian gunboats approached a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to board and capture the vessel.
“Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker.” Iranian reports said the tanker had entered Iranian waters earlier.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency cited a source as saying that its Shahed 139 drone, which the US said was shot down, was conducting surveillance.
“Shahed 139 drone was conducting its usual and legal mission in open waters, conducting reconnaissance, surveillance, and filming, and this is considered a routine and legal action. The drone successfully sent its surveillance and identification images to the center, but then lost contact. However, the reason for this loss of contact is being investigated, and details will be announced once it is confirmed,” the Tasnim report said.
The report comes as Tehran and Washington have both confirmed an upcoming round of talks after the recent significant escalation and numerous US threats to strike Iran. This development follows violent, Mossad-backed riots in the country early last month.
Israel is pushing for Washington to double down on its three main demands during the talks: An end to the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile program, and an end to support for resistance groups, including Palestine's Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The USS Lincoln arrived in West Asia recently with several accompanying warships. Washington has also deployed additional fighter jet squadrons to the region.
The Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has warned of a “regional war” if Iran is attacked. Officials have vowed that Tehran will strike Israel and US military bases across the region if Washington decides to bomb.
Resistance groups in West Asia, including Hezbollah, have warned that an attack on Iran would ignite the region.
Iranian media said a Shahed 139
was ‘legally’ conducting surveillance in open waters, and that Tehran is
investigating why authorities lost contact with the drone
The US military said on 3
February that it shot down an Iranian drone that approached its aircraft
carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Arabian Sea.
“The unmanned aircraft aggressively approached” the carrier, said CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins.
“The Iranian [Shahed 139] drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters,” he went on to say, adding that an F-35C Lightning II shot it down.
“No American service members were harmed during the incident, and no U.S. equipment was damaged.”
CENTCOM also said that two Iranian gunboats approached a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to board and capture the vessel.
“Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker.” Iranian reports said the tanker had entered Iranian waters earlier.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency cited a source as saying that its Shahed 139 drone, which the US said was shot down, was conducting surveillance.
“Shahed 139 drone was conducting its usual and legal mission in open waters, conducting reconnaissance, surveillance, and filming, and this is considered a routine and legal action. The drone successfully sent its surveillance and identification images to the center, but then lost contact. However, the reason for this loss of contact is being investigated, and details will be announced once it is confirmed,” the Tasnim report said.
The report comes as Tehran and Washington have both confirmed an upcoming round of talks after the recent significant escalation and numerous US threats to strike Iran. This development follows violent, Mossad-backed riots in the country early last month.
Israel is pushing for Washington to double down on its three main demands during the talks: An end to the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile program, and an end to support for resistance groups, including Palestine's Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The USS Lincoln arrived in West Asia recently with several accompanying warships. Washington has also deployed additional fighter jet squadrons to the region.
The Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has warned of a “regional war” if Iran is attacked. Officials have vowed that Tehran will strike Israel and US military bases across the region if Washington decides to bomb.
Resistance groups in West Asia, including Hezbollah, have warned that an attack on Iran would ignite the region.
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