Where are NJ drones coming from? Pentagon rejects lawmaker's Iranian 'mothership' claim

Pentagon officials rejected claims on Wednesday that the mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey had been coming from an Iranian “mothership.”

Speaking on Fox News Wednesday morning, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey) offered that the drones could be coming from an Iranian ship "off the East Coast of the United States of America."

Van Drew, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, cited unspecified "high," "qualified," and "responsible" sources.

"I don't say this lightly," he added.

"These drones should be shot down. Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can't imagine or whether it is Iran, and I think it very possibly could be, they should be shot down," Van Drew told Fox News Anchor Harris Faulkner.

Mystery drones swarming NJ skies: Can you shoot them down?

Pentagon rejects Van Drew’s claims

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said there is no truth to Van Drew's statements.

"There is no Iranian ship off of the coast of the United States and there is no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States," Singh said.

At this time, according to Singh, there is no evidence that the reported drone activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary. She added that while the Pentagon continues to monitor the situation, no installations were threatened when this activity occurred.

"These are not U.S. Military drones. This is being investigated by local law enforcement," said Singh. "Our initial assessment here is that these are not drones or activities coming from a foreign entity or adversary."

USA TODAY has reached out to Van Drew's office for comment about the Pentagon's denial.

Drones have been reported across the Garden State

Drone sightings have been reported in the northern part of the state near a Hunterdon County reservoir, as well as further south in Monmouth and Ocean counties and into Philadelphia-area townships like Cherry Hill and Evesham.

Many officials have continued to state that the drones do not pose any known threat to public safety. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are working in coordination to investigate the sightings.

Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction prohibiting drone flights over the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster and the Picatinny Arsenal military research and manufacturing facility in Morris County.

The move came "at the request of federal security partners," the FAA said.

What to do if you see drones in New Jersey

The FBI asks that anyone who sees the drones call 1-800-225-5324 or submit tips and video footage at www.tips.fbi.gov.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pentagon says New Jersey drones not coming from Iranian 'mothership'