The story of Iran attacking an American ship

Amidst the ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict, various rumors and unconfirmed reports are circulating that Iran has attacked American naval vessels. As of March 6, 2026, these claims, though primarily circulated through Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and social media, have not yet been confirmed by the Pentagon or any other independent party.

It is observed that Iran is spreading this misinformation as a propaganda tactic to cover up its setbacks, especially after the US Navy destroyed over 30 Iranian vessels.

Iranian officials recently announced a powerful attack on an American naval destroyer sailing in the Indian Ocean, using 'Ghadr-380' ballistic and 'Talaieh' cruise missiles. Although they claimed this was carried out concurrently with "Operation True Promise 4," US authorities emphasize that no American warship has sustained any damage. Previously, false information and edited video clips circulated on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) claiming attacks on American aircraft carriers such as the USS Abraham Lincoln, which have been confirmed to be merely created to boost the morale of pro-Iranian supporters.

However, there are reports that some US-affiliated oil tankers and commercial vessels navigating in the northern Persian Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz have been threatened by Iranian drones or small crafts. While some commercial vessels have reportedly caught fire due to these incidents, no American military or naval vessel has been destroyed by Iran to date. These actions are solely aimed at disrupting energy supply networks, placing maritime traffic in the region at severe risk.

Contrary to these unconfirmed rumors, the actual battlefield situation has been severely disadvantageous for Iran. On March 4, 2026, the Iranian Navy warship 'IRIS Dena', returning from the 'MILAN 2026' naval exercise in India, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka. This marks the first time an American submarine has sunk an enemy vessel since World War II. The attack resulted in the deaths of 87 Iranian sailors, while another 32 were rescued by Sri Lankan forces.

As stated by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, this attack is merely one step in "Operation Epic Fury," launched with the aim of weakening Iranian naval power. Currently, between 20 and 30 Iranian vessels, including drone transport ships like 'Shahid Bagheri', frigates, and corvettes, have been destroyed or severely damaged by American and Israeli attacks. As confirmed by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), these ongoing attacks have reduced Iran's missile and drone strike capability by approximately 90 percent.