Tensions in the Middle East increased after Iran claimed that its drones hit the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Iranian military officials said the strike happened in the Sea of Oman. However, American defence authorities strongly rejected the claim and said the reports were not true.
The statement from Iran suggested that the carrier was operating close to Iranian maritime borders. Officials said the incident took place during heightened military activity in the region.
Iran Says IRGC Navy Launched Drone Attack
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said drones from the navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted the US carrier. The claim was reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
According to Iranian officials, the carrier had moved to within about 340 kilometres of Iran’s maritime boundaries in the Sea of Oman. The deployment was reportedly linked to security operations near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
A spokesperson for the Iranian command centre said the drones struck the carrier successfully. The official added that the ship and its escorting destroyers quickly moved away from the area after the alleged attack.
Iran claimed that the vessels withdrew rapidly and were later positioned around one thousand kilometres away from the region. Iranian authorities presented the withdrawal as evidence of the effectiveness of their drone operation.
Iran Links Incident to “Operation True Promise 4”
Iranian officials also said the aircraft carrier had previously been targeted by ballistic missiles. They linked the attack to a military campaign named Operation True Promise 4.
According to the statement, four ballistic missiles were fired toward the carrier earlier during the operation. Iranian military sources claimed the campaign marked a new phase in their response against enemies in the region.
The statement further warned that Iran’s armed forces were prepared to continue operations on land and at sea. Officials described the strikes as “powerful blows” against what they called hostile forces.
Iranian state television also reported that drones launched by the Revolutionary Guards had hit the US warship. However, the broadcast did not provide evidence, footage, or additional operational details.
United States Rejects Iranian Claims
The United States quickly dismissed Iran’s statements. A US defence official said the aircraft carrier had not been struck and that the reports circulating in Iranian media were inaccurate.
“The reports are not true,” the official said while responding to the claims on Friday.
This is not the first time Iran has claimed to target the carrier. Earlier statements from the Revolutionary Guards said missiles were launched toward the vessel. At that time, the United States Department of Defense said the missiles did not come close to the carrier.
Currently, the United States has two aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East. The deployment supports a large-scale air campaign being conducted with Israel against Iran. The military operation began on February 28 and has significantly increased tensions across the region.
Security analysts say the presence of US naval forces near strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz often leads to confrontational rhetoric. The route is one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors.
For now, there is no independent confirmation that the aircraft carrier was hit by Iranian drones. The situation remains unclear as both sides continue to issue conflicting statements.
