U.S. tensions with the Islamic Republic of Iran continue as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group is now in the region. Ongoing demonstrations have roiled the country over economic conditions and authoritarian rule, and the brutal clampdown by the mullahs has resulted in mass killings. Trump has threatened to use military power — just like he did in June with the Operation Midnight Hammer attack on their nuclear facilities.
On Tuesday, the regime reportedly further escalated the situation by attempting to board a U.S. oil tanker; meanwhile, American forces shot down a drone that had “unclear intent”:
BREAKING: The U.S. military shot down an unmanned Iranian drone after it "aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent," a U.S. Central Command spokesman told FOX News.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 3, 2026
"USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500… pic.twitter.com/JIETOBjz1D
"USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship," the spokesman added.
In the gunboat drama, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard tried but failed to board the tanker:
British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech said Tuesday that a U.S.-flagged tanker was approached by Iranian gunboats, which threatened to board the vessel, in the Strait of Hormuz, before continuing on its way under military escort. The incident comes amid a tense standoff between the U.S. and Iran, and just days ahead of expected negotiations.
The Stena Imperative was approached by three pairs of small armed boats belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 16 nautical miles north of Oman's coast, the company said.
The gunboats hailed the tanker by radio, ordering the captain, "to stop the engines and prepare to be boarded," but the ship increased speed and maintained course, the firm added, stressing that it never entered Iranian territorial waters.
"The vessel is now being escorted by a U.S. warship," Vanguard Tech said.
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CENTCOM issued a statement:
"Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker," the CENTCOM spokesman said. "Guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was operating in the area and immediately responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force. The situation de-escalated as a result, and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in the drone shootdown Tuesday afternoon:
.@PressSec: "CENTCOM did make the decision to shoot down that Iranian drone. It was unmanned, it was acting aggressively towards our USS Lincoln...As for @POTUS, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first—but in order for diplomacy to work, of course, it takes two to… pic.twitter.com/wBwyl4MfFT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 3, 2026
As for @POTUS, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first—but in order for diplomacy to work, of course, it takes two to tango.
Now that the Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group is on the scene, the U.S. is in position to strike back forcefully against Iran’s harassment efforts. The big question remains: will we hit them with some sort of Nicolás Maduro-type operation? RedState will keep you updated.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
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