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... The Central Command said on Tuesday that an F-35 fighter jet shot down the Shahed drone to "protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board."

It also said no American service members were harmed and no US equipment was damaged.

US President Donald Trump's administration has sent the aircraft carrier to the Middle East to step up pressure on Iran to agree to hold talks on its nuclear program.

US news website Axios earlier said US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are due to meet in Istanbul on Friday, with foreign ministers of some Middle Eastern countries also attending. ...