We hit the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier - Iran says

Officially, it has been announced that on March 25, 2026, the Iranian regular army launched a 'Qader' cruise missile attack targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, belonging to the US Navy, further intensifying the ongoing conflicts between Iran, the United States, and Israel. According to a statement released via Iranian state television and the IRNA news agency, this coastal cruise missile attack forced the relevant American naval strike group to change its course.

However, unlike their previous statements, this time no claim has been made that the ship was destroyed or directly attacked.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has stated that they are continuously monitoring the course of the enemy Abraham Lincoln vessel and will subject it to powerful attacks as soon as it enters the range of their missile systems. State media, including Press TV, have also released alleged video footage showing how this attack was carried out. It is reported that this incident occurred off the Chabahar coast in the Gulf of Oman, while the ship was sailing at a distance of 250 to 300 kilometers. This is considered part of a strategic operation by Iran, utilizing its coastal defense measures against American naval power in the Gulf region.

The 'Qader' or Ghadeer missile, allegedly used in this attack, is specifically designed for naval targets, capable of flying at low altitudes to evade radar systems. The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), reportedly targeted, is a massive Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier weighing approximately 100,000 tons, capable of carrying over 60 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornets. This vessel is stationed near the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 20% of the world's oil supply is transported, with the aim of ensuring regional security.

However, no independent confirmation of this Iranian claim has been reported so far, and the American side has strongly denied similar allegations in the past. Commenting on the alleged ballistic missile attacks by Iran on March 1, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that these were merely false propaganda and that the USS Lincoln continues to contribute to the "Operation Epic Fury" air operations against Iran without any harm. In the past, some footage released by Iran regarding such attacks has been proven to be fake, created by artificial intelligence (AI).

This entire series of events aligns with the incident in late February 2026, where over 1,340 people, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, died in attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran. In response, under "Operation True Promise 4," Iran is launching drone and missile attacks against Israel and American bases in the Gulf region, as well as in Jordan and Iraq. Furthermore, earlier in March, claims by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that they had disabled the USS Lincoln were also rejected by the United States.