The United States military has rejected Iran’s claim that its forces struck the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier with ballistic missiles in the Gulf, calling the allegation false and misleading.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was “peddling recycled lies”, stressing that the carrier strike group remains fully operational and continues its mission in the region.
Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had attacked the USS Abraham Lincoln using four ballistic missiles.
According to the IRGC, the strike took place in the Sea of Oman, about 340 kilometers from Iran’s maritime borders, and involved advanced missiles and drones.
Iranian state media alleged that the attack caused major damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, forcing the vessel and its strike group to retreat from the area.
In a statement, the IRGC warned that “the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors.”
However, Iran did not provide evidence to support its claims.
US military rejects Iranian claims
US Central Command swiftly dismissed the allegations.
“To be clear: the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group continues to dominate Iranian airspace from the sea,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
Officials added that the missiles launched by Iran did not come close to the carrier, and the ship continues to launch aircraft in support of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing military campaign against Iran.
Pentagon officials also confirmed that the carrier remains fully operational and has not been disabled or damaged.
Photographic evidence released by US
In response to the Iranian claims, CENTCOM released photographic evidence showing the USS Abraham Lincoln operating normally.
The images were intended to demonstrate that the carrier strike group continues projecting military power in the region as part of the wider US campaign launched on February 28.
The aircraft carrier is one of two US carriers currently deployed in the region.
While the reported missile strike was denied, a separate maritime confrontation occurred earlier this week, according to US officials. CBS News reported that an Iranian vessel approached the USS Abraham Lincoln, prompting a defensive response from US forces.
A US Navy ship initially attempted to engage the vessel using its 5-inch Mark 45 deck gun, but several rounds reportedly missed the target. A US helicopter armed with Hellfire missiles was then deployed and struck the Iranian vessel twice.
The condition of the Iranian vessel and its crew remains unknown, and US defense officials declined to provide further details.
When asked about the incident, a US defense official told CBS: “We have nothing for you on this.”
Casualties reported in Operation Epic Fury
The tensions come as US Central Command confirmed casualties during Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing military campaign against Iranian forces.
According to CENTCOM, three US service members were killed in action in Iranian strikes, marking the first fatalities since the operation began.
In addition to those killed, five service members were seriously wounded, while several others suffered minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are now returning to duty.
Iran has been launching retaliatory strikes against Gulf countries hosting US bases and troops, including areas linked to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.
CENTCOM said the damage to bases in the region has so far been minimal.
Trump warns Iran against escalation
US President Donald Trump warned Iran against further escalation in the conflict. “Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before.”
Trump has been overseeing the operations from his Palm Beach home and is scheduled to return to Washington, D.C. on Sunday.
