US says Iran talks on this week as CENTCOM downs drone, IRGC-linked boats threaten tanker
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Armed vessels attempted to intercept a US-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported Tuesday, as the US military linked the boats to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and confirmed that an American warplane had also shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea.
The developments come as the White House confirmed Tuesday that Washington and Tehran remain scheduled to hold talks later this week.
UKMTO said Tuesday it had “received a report of an incident 16 [nautical miles] NM north of Oman” in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that a US-flagged vessel was hailed by “numerous small armed vessels” that urged it to stop, but the tanker “continued on its planned route.”
The British maritime authority said investigations into the incident are underway and advised vessels in the area to “transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
Later in the day, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that “two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker.”
CENTCOM added that the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG-74), which was operating in the area, “immediately responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force.” The situation subsequently de-escalated, and the US-flagged tanker is proceeding safely, the statement said.
Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said in a statement that a US fighter jet from the USS Abraham Lincoln had “shot down” an Iranian drone “in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.”
He added that the drone had “aggressively approached” the carrier with “unclear intent” and “continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters.”
The Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, handling a significant portion of global oil shipments. Iran has seized ships in the area in the past, including one last year that Tehran said was linked to Israel.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz. After the war with Israel in June, Iranian lawmaker Esmaeil Kowsari told state-run Press TV that Tehran is considering the possibility of closing the strategic waterway in response to Israeli military actions.
Despite the developments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday confirmed to reporters outside the West Wing that the United States is planning to hold talks with Iranian officials this week, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
“I just spoke with Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff, and these talks as of right now are still scheduled,” Leavitt said, adding that they were expected to take place “later this week.”
The meeting between Witkoff and Iranian officials is likely to be held in Turkey, AFP reported, citing a source close to the matter.
In an interview she gave to Fox News, Leavitt noted that US President Trump “remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first,” but “the president always has a range of options on the table, and that includes the use of military force.”
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran is prepared to pursue negotiations with the US if an appropriate diplomatic environment is established, marking conditional openness to dialogue while stressing Iran’s national interests.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said the move comes “in light of requests from friendly governments in the region” following a proposal by the US president to open talks.
“I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs [Abbas Araghchi], provided that a suitable environment exists - one free from threats and unreasonable expectations - to pursue fair and equitable negotiations,” Pezeshkian said.
He added that any talks would be “guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency.”
The Iranian president stressed that negotiations would not be open-ended or unconditional, saying they “shall be conducted within the framework of our national interests.”
The developments come as the White House confirmed Tuesday that Washington and Tehran remain scheduled to hold talks later this week.
UKMTO said Tuesday it had “received a report of an incident 16 [nautical miles] NM north of Oman” in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that a US-flagged vessel was hailed by “numerous small armed vessels” that urged it to stop, but the tanker “continued on its planned route.”
The British maritime authority said investigations into the incident are underway and advised vessels in the area to “transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
Later in the day, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that “two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker.”
CENTCOM added that the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG-74), which was operating in the area, “immediately responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force.” The situation subsequently de-escalated, and the US-flagged tanker is proceeding safely, the statement said.
Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said in a statement that a US fighter jet from the USS Abraham Lincoln had “shot down” an Iranian drone “in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.”
He added that the drone had “aggressively approached” the carrier with “unclear intent” and “continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters.”
The Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, handling a significant portion of global oil shipments. Iran has seized ships in the area in the past, including one last year that Tehran said was linked to Israel.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz. After the war with Israel in June, Iranian lawmaker Esmaeil Kowsari told state-run Press TV that Tehran is considering the possibility of closing the strategic waterway in response to Israeli military actions.
Despite the developments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday confirmed to reporters outside the West Wing that the United States is planning to hold talks with Iranian officials this week, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
“I just spoke with Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff, and these talks as of right now are still scheduled,” Leavitt said, adding that they were expected to take place “later this week.”
The meeting between Witkoff and Iranian officials is likely to be held in Turkey, AFP reported, citing a source close to the matter.
In an interview she gave to Fox News, Leavitt noted that US President Trump “remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first,” but “the president always has a range of options on the table, and that includes the use of military force.”
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran is prepared to pursue negotiations with the US if an appropriate diplomatic environment is established, marking conditional openness to dialogue while stressing Iran’s national interests.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said the move comes “in light of requests from friendly governments in the region” following a proposal by the US president to open talks.
“I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs [Abbas Araghchi], provided that a suitable environment exists - one free from threats and unreasonable expectations - to pursue fair and equitable negotiations,” Pezeshkian said.
He added that any talks would be “guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency.”
The Iranian president stressed that negotiations would not be open-ended or unconditional, saying they “shall be conducted within the framework of our national interests.”