Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired several ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer that it accused of harassing Iranian vessels, marking another sharp escalation in the confrontation between Tehran and Washington in the region.

The IRGC said the US warships were targeted after what it described as hostile actions against Iranian ships. Iranian officials claimed the vessels were forced to withdraw from the area following the missile launches. However, the claims of damage to the American warships have not been independently verified. 

IRGC says US warships were targeted

According to the IRGC's account, its forces launched several ballistic missiles against a US aircraft carrier and a Navy destroyer. Iranian state-linked reports described the operation as a response to the presence and activities of American warships near Iranian maritime routes.

The IRGC accused the US vessels of harassing Iranian ships and said the missile attack was intended to push them away from the area. Iran's Revolutionary Guards also warned that further attacks could follow if American forces continued what Tehran considers interference with Iranian shipping. 

US says ships evaded the attack

The US military has given a significantly different account of the incident.

According to the US Central Command's account, an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian attacks. The US military said there were no reported American casualties.

The contrasting accounts mean that the IRGC's claim that the warships were struck or damaged should be treated as an Iranian assertion unless independently confirmed. 

Escalation follows US tanker strikes

The latest missile claims came shortly after the United States announced strikes against three Iranian crude oil tankers.

US Central Command said the strikes were carried out after Iranian ballistic missiles were launched toward two US Navy warships. Washington said the targeted tankers were connected to a network that financially supports Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

The US military said two of the tankers were disabled while a third vessel was destroyed. The developments have created a rapidly escalating cycle involving military vessels, commercial shipping and Iran's oil trade. 

Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint

The confrontation is unfolding around one of the world's most strategically important maritime regions. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy shipments, making any military confrontation involving Iranian and American vessels a potential threat to commercial shipping and energy markets.

Iran has repeatedly warned vessels operating in waters it considers subject to its restrictions, while the US has increased military pressure on Iranian maritime and oil assets.

The latest exchange therefore carries implications beyond the two countries, particularly for international shipping and crude oil supplies.

Claims of damage remain unverified

Iranian reports have claimed that the American warships were hit and forced to withdraw, but available US accounts do not support those claims.

The US military has said its vessels avoided the Iranian missile attacks and that no American personnel were injured. Independent confirmation of damage to the carrier or destroyer was not immediately available in the latest reports.

The competing narratives underline the rapidly deteriorating security situation between Washington and Tehran. With military vessels and oil tankers now directly involved, further incidents could increase the risk of a broader confrontation across the Gulf and surrounding waterways.