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A US Navy F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter intercepted and shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. According to US Central Command, the drone aggressively approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln while the vessel was operating in international waters approximately 500 miles off the southern coast of Iran. The military confirmed the engagement was an act of self-defense after the unmanned aircraft continued its approach despite multiple de-escalatory measures.

While US officials described the drone's intent as unclear, the decision to engage was made to ensure the safety of the carrier and its personnel. No American service members were injured and no equipment was damaged in the encounter. In a separate but nearly simultaneous escalation, the US military reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps fast-attack boats and a Mohajer drone harassed the US-flagged merchant vessel Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz. The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul intervened to escort the tanker to safety following threats of a seizure.

The incidents occur amidst a high-pressure diplomatic landscape as the Trump administration seeks a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. President Trump has deployed a massive naval armada to the region as leverage, recently warning that bad things would happen if a deal is not reached. Despite the military friction, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that diplomatic talks between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials remain scheduled for later this week in Turkey.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signaled a cautious willingness to negotiate, instructing his foreign ministry to pursue fair and equitable talks provided they occur in an environment free from threats. However, Iranian state media claimed the downed drone was on a routine surveillance mission in international waters and suggested the loss of connection was due to unknown reasons. The standoff highlights the volatile nature of the current maximum pressure campaign and the narrow path remaining for a diplomatic resolution.