US shoots down Iranian drone as tensions rise

The United States military shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday that had approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, officials said, marking a significant escalation amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to resume nuclear talks with Tehran.

The Shahed-139 drone, described by the US military as flying “with unclear intent,” was intercepted by an F-35 fighter jet in self-defence, Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said. No US personnel or equipment were harmed.

Hours later, in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) boats and a drone approached the US-flagged merchant vessel M/V Stena Imperative, ordering it to stop.

The tanker increased speed and continued safely under the escort of the USS McFaul and US Air Force support. Vanguard, a maritime security group, confirmed the vessel did not enter Iranian territorial waters.

Meanwhile, Iran’s domestic unrest has intensified. Local authorities in central Iran reported the arrest of 139 foreign nationals allegedly involved in recent anti-government protests that erupted on December 28 over rising living costs.

Nationwide, rights groups say more than 50,000 people have been detained since demonstrations erupted. Security forces have been accused of killing thousands, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency claiming at least 6,854 deaths, mostly protesters.

Iranian authorities blame “foreign-backed rioters” for the unrest and warn that some detainees could face the death penalty. The arrests have included students, writers, and teachers, with reports of forced confessions and psychological pressure.