The US Navy has reportedly shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East on Tuesday. In a statement the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said an unmanned aircraft aggressively approached a US Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent.

The USS Abraham Lincoln was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coastline when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone maneuvered toward the carrier and persisted in its approach despite de-escalatory measures by US forces in international waters. An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian Shahed-139 drone in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board. There were no injuries to US personnel and no damage to American equipment, confirmed CENTCOM.

Hourse later in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces harassed a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel lawfully transiting the international sea passage, added the statement.

Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone closed in on the M/V Stena Imperative at high speed, threatening to board and seize the tanker.

The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was operating in the area and promptly responded to escort the M/V Stena Imperative, with defensive air support provided by the US Air Force. The situation was de-escalated and the US -flagged tanker is now continuing safely.

CENTCOM proceeded to warn that “continued Iranian harassment and threats” will “not be tolerated”.

The statement said: “CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel, ships, and aircraft in the Middle East. Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated.

“Iran’s unnecessary aggression near U.S. forces, regional partners and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.”

President Donald Trump has been ramping up pressure on Iran for weeks, threatening the Tehran regime with military action. Last week the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft-carrier group entered the Central Command’s zone of responsibility.

Trump told Axios last week that the situation in Iran was “in flux,” and that the American military presence in the waters near Iran was bigger than the one he had deployed near Venezuela.

“We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela,” he said.

Earlier today Iran’s president said he had instructed his foreign minister to pursue “fair and equitable negotiations” with the US, amid reports that senior officials from both countries will meet in Istanbul later this week for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X: “I have instructed my minister of foreign affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists – one free from threats and unreasonable expectations – to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency.”