Tehran is increasing pressure on key trade routes by combining naval operations with the use of drones. Tensions are escalating in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. The US Navy shot down an Iranian Shahed drone that was aggressively approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. An F-35C fighter jet intercepted and destroyed the drone, which was flying with unclear intentions. This incident is not isolated; following the initial interception, new drone launches from Iranian territory were reported. Iran systematically uses drones to monitor US and allied naval activity, often to test reaction times and rules of engagement. Pentagon sources stated: "We will not tolerate continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace." Just hours before the incident, six Iranian fast attack craft attempted to stop a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident highlights Iran's strategy of challenging Western presence without formally escalating to open conflict.
