US Downs Iranian Drone as Nuclear Talks Face New Strain

WASHINGTON: (Web Desk) – A US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier in the Middle East on Tuesday, escalating tensions just days before planned nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to the US military, an F-35C fighter jet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln intercepted and destroyed the drone in what officials described as an act of self-defense. The carrier strike group was deployed to the Arabian Sea last month amid a broader buildup of US forces in the region.

Despite the incident, the White House said diplomatic efforts remain on track. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that US envoy Steve Witkoff is still expected to hold talks with Iranian officials later this week.

The drone incident marked the second confrontation between the two rivals in Middle Eastern waters on the same day. Earlier, Iranian forces attempted to stop a US-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said Iranian gunboats and a drone approached the tanker and threatened to seize it, prompting a US destroyer to intervene and escort the vessel to safety.

US Shoots Down Iranian Drone Near USS Abraham Lincoln

Iranian media, however, claimed that a ship had entered Iranian territorial waters and was warned to leave, which it did immediately.

The maritime confrontations come as Washington and Tehran prepare for nuclear negotiations scheduled for Friday. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran of possible military action if a deal is not reached, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said talks will only proceed if they are free of threats.

Trump has accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes. The United States also seeks limits on Iran’s missile program and its support for regional proxy groups—issues Iran says are non-negotiable.

Regional tensions have been further inflamed by Iran’s recent crackdown on anti-government protests sparked by rising living costs. Iranian authorities acknowledge thousands of deaths but blame the violence on foreign-backed unrest. Human rights groups, however, report significantly higher casualty figures and tens of thousands of arrests.

As diplomatic efforts continue, clashes at sea highlight the fragile security situation in the region and the high stakes surrounding the upcoming talks.