U.S. forces shoot down Iranian drone that ‘aggressively approached’ aircraft carrier in Arabian Sea

A U.S. fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively approached” the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday and American forces later drove off Iranian boats harassing a U.S.-flagged merchant ship, Pentagon officials said.

The incidents come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and in the midst of a significant build-up of American military assets in the region, including the Abraham Lincoln. The drone shoot-down came just hours after Iran signaled it wanted direct negotiations with the Trump administration, which has demanded that Tehran make major concessions on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The White House said that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is still set to meet with an Iranian delegation later this week, despite the clashes Tuesday. That meeting will take place after repeated threats from President Trump to launch fresh military strikes against Iran, though administration officials stressed that the president’s preferred outcome is a diplomatic deal.

“As for the president, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first. But in order for diplomacy to work, of course it takes two to tango. You need a willing partner to engage,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News. “Special envoy Witkoff is set to have conversations with the Iranians later this week. Those are still scheduled as of right now.”

But the two incidents in Middle Eastern waters on Tuesday could suggest that some elements of Iran’s military want to test the American forces in the region.

There are believed to be hard-liners in Iranian leadership, including in its elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who favor a more aggressive stance toward the U.S. and could oppose direct diplomatic engagement.

The incidents also underscore the significant risk of escalation. Should Iranian drones or other assets cause harm to U.S. personnel or damage American equipment in the region, that could quickly change the Trump administration’s calculus and increase the chances of U.S. strikes against Iran.

The Iranian drone that approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Tuesday did so with “unclear intent,” officials said, leading American forces to take action in order to protect themselves from potential harm.

U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said in a statement that the Iranian Shahed-139 drone approached the U.S. vessel as it was sailing about 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast. He said that the drone “continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters.”

The Iranian drone was shot down by a U.S. F-35 fighter jet, officials said. No troops were injured and no U.S. equipment was damaged, officials said.

Hours later, two boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a separate Iranian drone harassed the merchant ship Stena Imperative, officials said, and Iranian crews even threatened to board and seize the vessel.

The U.S.-flagged ship had an American crew on board, the Pentagon said.

A U.S. destroyer responded to the scene and escorted the ship out of danger, with “defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force.”

Capt. Hawkins said the “situation de-escalated as a result,” and that the U.S. ship continued on its journey.

“Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated,” Capt. Hawkins said in a statement. “Iran’s unnecessary aggression near U.S. forces, regional partners and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.”

Those developments come against an already tense backdrop. Mr. Trump has repeatedly threatened military strikes on Iran because of its violent, deadly crackdown on protesters last month. The president has surged American military assets to the region in preparation for those possible strikes.

Mr. Trump last year ordered strikes against three key Iranian nuclear facilities, demonstrating his willingness to take action against Tehran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday he wants to reach a deal with the U.S.

“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,” he said in a social media post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to lead the team that meets with Mr. Witkoff later this week.

• This story is based in part on wire service reports.