Tensions in the Middle East flared again after a U.S. Navy fighter jet reportedly shot down an Iranian drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the incident as the latest military confrontation between the United States and Iran in international waters.

CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins told Newsweek that the drone exhibited threatening behavior prior to being neutralized.

According to Hawkins, the unmanned aircraft aggressively moved toward the carrier with unclear intent and continued its approach despite de-escalation measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) local time.

The drone, identified as a Shahed-139, was destroyed by an F-35C fighter jet launched directly from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Military data indicated the carrier was positioned roughly 500 miles off Iran’s southern coast. U.S. officials confirmed that no personnel were injured and no military equipment was damaged.

The confrontation did not end there. Hours later, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was reported to have harassed a U.S.-flagged commercial tanker, M/V Stena Imperative, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Two IRGC fast-attack boats and a Mohajer drone approached the vessel at high speed and threatened to seize it.

CENTCOM stated that the U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed merchant ship was legally navigating an international sea lane when the harassment occurred. The situation was eventually defused after the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) provided defensive assistance with support from U.S. Air Force aircraft, allowing the tanker to continue its voyage safely.

These incidents unfolded amid diplomatic efforts led by Turkey to bring both sides to the negotiating table. Despite rising tensions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that dialogue efforts remain ongoing.

Leavitt reiterated that President Donald Trump continues to prioritize diplomacy, while noting that the United States retains multiple options in dealing with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning that any U.S. attack could trigger a large-scale regional war. Iran maintains that it does not seek conflict but is prepared to respond forcefully to any aggression.

In response, President Trump signaled that reaching a nuclear agreement is essential to avoiding open conflict.

The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln is intended to strengthen deterrence and safeguard regional security. However, Iran’s continued use of Shahed drones—widely employed in the Ukraine conflict—remains a significant threat to commercial shipping routes and military operations in an increasingly congested airspace.