U.S. shoots down Iranian drone, global oil prices rebound
- Input
- 2026-02-04 05:53:37
- Updated
- 2026-02-04 05:53:37
Global oil prices rebounded on the 3rd (local time), just one day after a sharp drop.
Brent crude oil for April delivery, the benchmark for international oil prices, closed at 67.33 dollars per barrel, up 1.03 dollars, or 1.55%, from the previous session.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil (WTI) for March delivery, the benchmark U.S. grade, rose 1.07 dollars, or 1.72%, to 63.21 dollars per barrel.
The rebound came after both benchmarks had plunged more than 4% the previous day, as geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran escalated again within just 24 hours.
U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone that day, and armed Iranian vessels approached a U.S.-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on the 3rd that it had shot down an Iranian drone that was aggressively approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. At the time, the carrier was sailing in waters about 500 miles (800 kilometers) off Iran’s southern coast.
The U.S. military explained that a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (F-35) fighter jet downed a Shahed-139 drone, saying the drone was flying toward the carrier with "unclear intent."
Iran moved quickly to respond.
CENTCOM stated that forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened a U.S.-flagged vessel. According to the U.S. military, two IRGC boats and one Mohajer drone approached the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Imperative and threatened to board and seize the ship.
Washington has indicated that talks with Iran are proceeding as scheduled, but it is also signaling that the use of force is not off the table if it concludes a diplomatic agreement is unlikely.
When asked at the White House on the 2nd whether military action was being considered, President Donald Trump replied, "We’ll see what happens."
Diplomatic efforts are continuing.
Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to meet on the 6th in Istanbul, Türkiye.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also addressed questions about rising tensions over the drone shootdown, saying she had spoken with Envoy Witkoff and that talks with Iran were proceeding as planned.
dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter