ARABIAN SEA — Tensions between U.S. and Iranian naval forces have escalated following a reported confrontation involving an Iranian vessel that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier at close range, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the incident.
The officials, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the operation publicly, said a U.S. Navy vessel attempted to engage the Iranian ship with its 5-inch Mark 45 naval gun. The weapon is a standard artillery system aboard many American surface warships.
The initial rounds reportedly missed the Iranian vessel multiple times. It remains unclear whether the gunfire was intended as a warning or as an effort to directly disable the approaching ship.
The confrontation then escalated when a U.S. military helicopter armed with Hellfire missiles was launched. According to the officials, the helicopter struck the Iranian vessel twice.
The condition of the Iranian ship and the status of its crew remain unclear. U.S. authorities have not publicly confirmed casualties or provided detailed information about the engagement.
Carrier Strike Group at Center of Tensions
The USS Abraham Lincoln is operating in the region as part of a carrier strike group that includes guided-missile destroyers. The USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy are among the vessels deployed alongside the carrier.
The exact American ship involved in the initial gunfire has not been publicly identified.
The helicopter used in the reported strike has also not been identified. Both Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and Marine Corps AH-1Z Vipers can operate with Hellfire missiles, although officials have not said which aircraft participated.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations across the region, declined to provide details when contacted by CBS News. A defense official reportedly responded, “We have nothing for you on this.”
Part of a Larger Confrontation
The reported incident comes amid a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous encounters between U.S. and Iranian forces.
Earlier confrontations have involved Iranian drones and other military assets approaching American warships. The USS Abraham Lincoln has remained a major component of the U.S. military presence in the region as tensions with Tehran have intensified.
The latest reported exchange highlights the risks facing American sailors and Iranian personnel operating in increasingly contested waters.
For U.S. commanders, the incident could raise questions about rules of engagement and how aggressively to respond when foreign vessels approach American warships.
With details still limited and neither side publicly providing a full account, the circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain unclear. Any further escalation could carry significant consequences for regional security and the broader U.S.-Iran conflict.
