The Lincoln aircraft carrier
Credit: Reuters Photo
The US has shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching "aggressively" towards the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, the US military said on Tuesday.
According to the US military, the Iranian Shahed-139 drone was flying toward the carrier "with unclear intent" and was shot down by an F-35 U.S. fighter jet, it said.
"An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defence and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board," Reuters reported, quoting Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson at the US military's Central Command.
Hawkins added that no American was harmed during the incident and that no equipment was damaged.
This comes amid diplomats seeking nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.
US President Donald Trump has also warned that US warships are heading towards Iran and that "bad things" would probably happen if a deal could not be reached.
The Lincoln aircraft carrier is a part of the US military buildup in the Middle East as Iran carried out a violent crackdown against anti-government demonstrations last month, the deadliest domestic unrest in Iran since its 1979 revolution.
Trump issued several threats of military action but has since demanded That Iran make nuclear concessions.
He said last week Iran was "seriously talking," while Tehran's top security official, Ali Larijani, said arrangements for negotiations were under way.
"Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker," Hawkins said.