US destroyer hit by Iranian missiles, Iran claims

US military denies reports carried by Iranian state media that an American destroyer was hit by Iranian missiles.

By World Israel News Staff

The US military on Monday denied Iranian media reports that an American naval vessel had been struck near the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions remained high around the key waterway.

Iranian news agencies, including Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency, claimed that Iran had struck an American guided-missile destroyer, the USS Mahan, southeast of the strait, after accusing it of “violating maritime security and navigation norms.”

Fars claimed that two missiles hit the vessel near the Iranian port of Jask. A senior US official denied the incident occurred, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the competing accounts.

US Central Command issued a statement pushing back on the Iranian reports.

“Iranian state media claims that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a US warship with two missiles,” CENTCOM said.

“TRUTH: No US Navy ships have been struck. US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”

The alleged attack briefly rattled energy markets, with oil prices jumping about 5% Monday after the Iranian claim circulated.

The claim came as the United States remained active near the Persian Gulf and said it was prepared to help guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions have strained global shipping and energy markets.

The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center has urged vessels to use Oman’s waters and said an “enhanced security area” had been established near the Omani side of the strait. It also warned that some normal routes remained hazardous because of mines that had not been fully surveyed or cleared.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States would “guide” ships out of the strait and warned that Iranian attempts to block them “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Iran has warned foreign military forces not to enter the area without coordination.

“We warn that any foreign military force — especially the aggressive US military — that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted,” Maj. Gen. Pilot Ali Abdollahi told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.