The US says it shot down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, sharply increasing tensions with Iran as both sides move toward potential nuclear talks.
According to The Guardian, US Central Command said an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approached the aircraft carrier and was shot down by an F-35C in self-defense on February 3, 2026, with no casualties or damage.
Iran did not confirm the shootdown, stating only that contact was lost with a drone in international waters or that it had completed a surveillance mission.
US officials also reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards harassed a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, with two boats and a drone threatening to seize the vessel. Iran has not confirmed the incident.
The confrontations come as the US and Iran work to revive nuclear negotiations. President Donald Trump warned of consequences if no deal is reached, while his envoy plans meetings despite disagreements over the venue. Iran’s president has signaled a willingness to negotiate amid an increasing US military presence in the region.
