Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed its forces launched ballistic missiles targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf, asserting that the carrier was struck in retaliation for recent attacks on Iranian territory.
The announcement came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following a series of strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian military sites and leadership figures.
According to Iranian state media and IRGC statements, four ballistic missiles were launched toward the USS Abraham Lincoln, with the Guards declaring that the assault was a response to what Tehran described as “terrorist aggression.” Officials asserted that the strikes demonstrated Iran’s capability to hit major US military assets and warned that “land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of terror aggressors.”
In response, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected Tehran’s assertion that the aircraft carrier was hit or damaged. A statement issued by CENTCOM said the missiles launched by Iranian forces “didn’t even come close” to the USS Abraham Lincoln, and that the carrier continues its operations in the region without harm.
The conflicting reports have underscored the deepening geopolitical crisis in the region, with both nations presenting sharply divergent narratives about the military exchange.
The alleged missile attack marks one of the most significant direct confrontations between Iranian forces and a US naval vessel in recent decades, highlighting how swiftly tensions have escalated since the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader earlier this week. The incident has raised concerns among global security analysts about the potential for further clashes in the strategic waters of the Persian Gulf.
Iran’s statement did not provide independent verification of the claimed strike, and there has been no visual or third-party confirmation that the USS Abraham Lincoln sustained any damage.
The United States has maintained that its forces remain ready and capable of defending themselves and their allies, even as diplomatic channels are being tested amid the ongoing crisis.
