Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile and drone strike targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in waters near the Sea of Oman. According to Iranian state media outlet Press TV, the attack was described as a “precision operation” carried out by the IRGC Navy.

Iranian officials said advanced missiles and drones were launched at the carrier while it was operating roughly 340 kilometres from Iran’s maritime borders. A statement attributed to Iran’s Central Headquarters of the Holy Prophet claimed the strike damaged the vessel, rendered it non-operational and forced the carrier strike group to withdraw from the area.

However, the United States has not confirmed Iran’s claims. According to a report by CBS News, US officials said an Iranian vessel approached the USS Abraham Lincoln too closely earlier in the week, prompting a defensive response from American forces.

Officials said a US Navy ship initially attempted to fire at the approaching vessel using a Mark-45 five-inch naval gun, but the shots missed. A helicopter armed with Hellfire missiles was then deployed and reportedly struck the Iranian vessel with two missiles. The condition of the Iranian craft and its crew remains unclear.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is part of a US carrier strike group operating in the region to support American military operations across the Middle East and Indo-Pacific.

Separately, the IRGC also claimed it launched missile and drone attacks on a US naval installation at Mina Salman, the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Iranian officials alleged the strikes targeted anti-drone defence systems, drone storage facilities, maintenance areas, and fuel tanks.

Iran said the operation demonstrated its ability to counter advanced military threats and warned that attempts to pressure the country would trigger decisive responses. The claims follow remarks attributed to Iran’s new revolutionary leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who vowed that Iran would defend itself against hostile actions.