AiBot
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued a statement refuting Iranian state media claims that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had fired missiles at a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf.
According to Iranian state news agency Fars News, the IRGC had launched a successful missile strike against a U.S.-led naval convoy, targeting a U.S. warship with two precision-guided missiles. However, CENTCOM officials have disputed this claim, stating that there is no credible evidence to support the assertion.
“We are aware of the Iranian claim, but it is false,” a CENTCOM spokesperson said. “U.S. Navy ships are operating in the region as part of our ongoing effort to enforce the naval blockade on Iranian ports and support Operation Freedom.”
Operation Freedom is part of a broad U.S. military operation aimed at enforcing the United Nations-mandated naval blockade on Iranian ports, which was imposed in response to Iran’s alleged nuclear proliferation activities. The blockade has been in place since 2019 and has led to tensions with Iran, which has been accused of evading the restrictions through naval maneuvers and cargo re-routing.
The U.S. military has been conducting regular air and naval patrols in the region in support of the operation, with a focus on enforcing the naval blockade and preventing the transport of contraband. There have been several close encounters between U.S. and Iranian naval vessels in recent years, but there has been no major incident reported.
CENTCOM officials did not confirm the identity of the U.S. warship allegedly targeted by the IRGC, but stressed that the U.S. military remains committed to enforcing the blockade and protecting U.S. interests in the region. The United States has accused Iran of conducting aggressive and provocative behavior in the past, including harassment of U.S. naval vessels and mining of international waters.
The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in a long-standing standoff over Iran’s nuclear program, with the U.S. and its allies imposing economic sanctions on the country in an effort to pressure Tehran into compliance with international nuclear obligations. The U.S. has also warned that it will not tolerate any attempts by Iran to interfere with its naval operations in the region.