American forces shot down an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea Tuesday after it “aggressively approached” the plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln, the navy’s Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed.
The Shahed-139 plane was flying towards the provider “with unclear intent” when it was shot down by an F-35 fighter jet launched from the usLincoln “to guard the plane provider and personnel on board,” the Qatar-based command mentioned in an announcement.
“No American service members had been harmed through the incident, and no US tools was broken.”
The incident, first reported by Reuters, got here as diplomats sought to rearrange nuclear talks between Iran and the USA, after President Trump warned that “dangerous issues” would seemingly occur if a deal couldn’t be reached.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters shortly after the incident that talks between the US and Iran set for Friday in Istanbul “as of proper now, are nonetheless scheduled.” The American delegation will probably be led by Trump particular envoy Steve Witkoff.
“President Trump is at all times eager to pursue diplomacy first, however clearly it takes two to tango,” Leavitt mentioned. “You want a prepared associate to realize diplomacy, and that’s one thing that Particular Envoy Witkoff is intent on exploring and discussing.
“As at all times, although, in fact, the president has a spread of choices on the desk with respect to Iran as commander in chief. I feel they discovered that fairly properly final yr with the strike in Operation Midnight Hammer, which was wildly profitable and obliterated their nuclear capabilities. However these talks will proceed later this week, so far as we’re involved.”
In a separate incident Tuesday, Iran’s infamous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to board and seize a US-flagged tanker traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Two IRGC boats and a Mohajer drone contacted the M/V Stena Crucial “at excessive speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker,” in line with CENTCOM.
In response, the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul escorted the Stena Crucial by the strait with Air Drive assist.
“CENTCOM forces are working on the highest ranges of professionalism and making certain the protection of US personnel, ships, and plane within the Center East,” the navy assertion concluded.
“Continued Iranian harassment and threats in worldwide waters and airspace is not going to be tolerated. Iran’s pointless aggression close to US forces, regional companions and industrial vessels will increase dangers of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.”
The Lincoln provider strike group arrived within the area final month, probably the most seen a part of a US navy buildup following a violent crackdown by Tehran towards anti-government demonstrations, the deadliest home unrest in Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Trump, who stopped wanting finishing up threats to intervene through the crackdown, has since demanded that Tehran make nuclear concessions along with sending a flotilla to its coast.
The president mentioned final week that Washington and Tehran had been “severely speaking,” whereas a prime Iranian safety official, Ali Larijani, mentioned preparations for negotiations had been underway.
With Put up wires
