Iranian Media Asserts Downed Drone by U.S. Was on a ‘Routine and Lawful Surveillance Mission

In a recent development over the Arabian Sea, a U.S. military operation brought down an Iranian drone, which, according to Iranian sources, was on a surveillance mission deemed both routine and lawful. This incident has sparked differing narratives between the two nations.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, closely linked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the drone’s mission was legitimate and conducted over international waters. The agency cited an IRGC source who claimed that the drone had successfully relayed reconnaissance images back to its command center before it lost communication.

The source emphasized that the drone’s activities were standard, involving surveillance and imaging tasks that complied with international regulations. However, the U.S. military’s perspective diverges significantly. According to a spokesman from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the decision to shoot down the unmanned aircraft was made after it approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in an aggressive manner, and its intentions were not clear.

The U.S. Navy vessel involved was the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which was stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, as of August 2025. This incident adds another layer to the ongoing tensions in the region, highlighting the complex interplay of military operations and international diplomacy.

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is shown at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2025. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

“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,” Capt. Tim Hawkins added. 

“The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters,” CENTCOM also said. “An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.” 

USS Abraham Lincoln sails in the Pacific Ocean in this photo released in August 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Daniel Kimmelman)

Hawkins said no U.S. service members were injured and no U.S. equipment was damaged during the incident.

USS Abraham Lincoln is in the Middle East after President Donald Trump said last week that, “A massive Armada is heading to Iran.”   

An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 10, 2024. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Daniel Kimmelman/Reuters)

Hawkins also told Fox News on Tuesday that, “During a separate incident hours later in the Strait of Hormuz, IRGC forces harassed a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel lawfully transiting the international sea passage.”