Tehran, February 4: Amid rising tensions with the United States, Iranian media has reported that a military drone has successfully returned after completing a mission over the sea. The drone was allegedly on a “surveillance mission” in International waters.
This announcement follows a statement from the U.S. military claiming it shot down an Iranian aircraft that approached an aircraft carrier too closely.
According to unnamed sources cited by the Fars News Agency, the drone monitored military activities around Iran and transmitted real-time data back to ground bases. The Xinhua News Agency noted that such missions are deemed essential for comprehensive regional surveillance.
The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran lost contact with one of its drones, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause, with updates to be announced later.
Previously, U.S. Central Command stated that an American F-35C fighter jet was compelled to shoot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea. The command indicated that the drone had turned towards the USS Abraham Lincoln while the carrier was approximately 800 kilometers from the Iranian coast in international waters.
According to the U.S. statement, the drone was shot down in self-defense. The military confirmed that no American personnel were injured and no equipment was damaged during the incident.
This event occurred amid significant U.S. military deployments in the region. The Trump administration had dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group and several warships to the Middle East at the end of January, as President Trump continued to issue warnings to Tehran.