Iranian drone destroyed after aggressive approach to US carrier, military says

Iranian boats harass US-flagged tanker

In a separate incident on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after the drone shootdown, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces harassed a US-flagged, US-crewed merchant vessel, according to the US military.

"Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker," Hawkins said.

Maritime risk management group Vanguard said the Iranian boats ordered the tanker to stop its engine and prepare to be boarded. Instead, the tanker sped up and continued its voyage.

Hawkins said a US Navy warship, the McFaul, was operating in the area and escorted the Stena Imperative.

"The situation de-escalated as a result, and the US-flagged tanker is proceeding safely," Hawkins added.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Rod Nickel)