U.S. Fighter Downs Iranian Drone Near Carrier as Tanker Is Harassed

A U.S. Navy fighter shot down an Iranian drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday, one of two confrontations in a day that came as Washington and Tehran weigh talks over Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Associated Press (via Fox 19), Al Jazeera and CBS News.

Central Command said a fighter jet from the Lincoln downed an Iranian Shahed-139 drone while the carrier was about 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast, the AP and Al Jazeera reported. Iranian officials said they were investigating the loss of the drone: the AP cited Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and Al Jazeera cited the Tasnim news agency.

Separately, Iranian forces approached the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command said two Revolutionary Guard boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached the ship at high speed and threatened to board and seize it, the AP, Al Jazeera and CBS News reported. The destroyer USS McFaul escorted the ship with air support from the U.S. Air Force, according to the AP and CBS News.

Iran disputed the account. Iran’s Fars news agency said the vessel had entered Iranian waters without permission, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera.

The incidents come as the two governments circle a diplomatic opening. Talks involving special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials are planned, the AP and Al Jazeera reported; the AP said the location was unsettled, with Turkey and Oman among those offering to host, and Al Jazeera said Oman was reported as the likely venue and the talks were expected Friday. Trump said, “we are negotiating with them right now,” according to the AP and Al Jazeera. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his foreign minister to pursue “fair and equitable negotiations,” both outlets reported.

The United States has been adding forces in the region. The Lincoln carrier strike group, with roughly 5,700 additional personnel, joined three destroyers and three littoral combat ships already there, according to the AP and Al Jazeera.