Middle East Tensions: US Shoots Down Iranian Drone Amid Fragile Talks

WASHINGTON – The United States shot down an Iranian drone near its aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, even as President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are continuing to try to ease tensions in the Gulf.

Trump told reporters at the White House that Washington is negotiating with Tehran “right now,” but he declined to specify where the discussions are taking place. The president has been pressuring Iran to agree to talks over its nuclear program and has repeatedly threatened military action in response to the country’s crackdown on antigovernment protests.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, sent to the Gulf last week with about 5,700 additional troops, joined three destroyers and three littoral combat ships already in the region.

CENTCOM said a U.S. fighter jet shot down the Shahed-139 drone in self-defense after it “aggressively approached” the carrier and continued toward it despite measures taken by U.S. forces in international waters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said earlier Tuesday he had instructed the foreign minister to pursue “fair and equitable negotiations” guided by dignity, prudence, and expediency, provided a suitable environment exists for talks.

Iranian authorities have not commented on the drone incident. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that contact was lost with the drone, which had successfully transmitted data to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and that an investigation is underway to determine the cause.

GAROWE ONLINE