Iran claimed it had targeted a US aircraft carrier with cruise missiles amid a fresh round of devastating strikes across the region on Wednesday.
Tehran released unverifiable footage of a missile said to have been fired at the USS Abraham Lincoln, while claiming the ship was forced to ‘change position’ after the barrage in the Arabian Sea.
The Islamic Republic’s navy chief, Admiral Shahram Irani, revealed a Qadar anti-ship cruise missile was used and warned that the £1.8 billion, nuclear-powered warship and its carrier group were ‘constantly being monitored’.
In a statement read on state television, he added: ‘As soon as this hostile fleet comes within range of our missile systems, it will be subjected to powerful strikes by the Iranian Navy.’
It comes after Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that all 101 missiles fired at the Abraham Lincoln were intercepted.
Iran also launched a fresh barrage of missiles at targets across the region on Wednesday. It was accused of aiming at Israel’s largest power plant – defying the US President’s claims that a five-day pause on attacks against energy infrastructure had been agreed.
A ballistic missile landed close to Orot power station in Hadera, sending huge plumes of smoke across the area. The plant was not damaged by the missile, which landed nearby.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it had destroyed at least eight drones in its oil-rich Eastern Province and missile alert sirens also sounded in Bahrain.
And Kuwait said it shot down multiple drones but one hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a massive fire.
Tehran claimed it had fired ballistic missiles at the $1.8billion USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier (pictured), adding it had to ‘change position’ after the barrage in the Arabian Sea.
The Iranian regime released this unverified footage of missiles being fired towards the USS Abraham Lincoln
The attacks continued amid reports Saudi Arabia and the UAE are considering joining the fight as they do not want the US to strike a deal with a severely wounded and dangerous Iran.
Pro-Iran social media accounts shared a picture of a Sejil ballistic missile being launched with the caption: ‘One of our senior diplomats, His Excellency Mr Sejil, is heading for negotiations with the Great Satan.’
The regime also signalled on Wednesday it could call on the Houthis, its terror proxy in Yemen, to fire on vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to shut another vital shipping lane to the Red Sea.
A military official said it has ‘both the will and the capability’ to do so in response to any ‘enemy action’.
It is seen as a threat should the US try to seize the strategically vital Kharg Island, through which Iran exports 90 per cent of its oil.
The Houthis have so far sat this war out, but if they entered the conflict it could further drive up oil and gas prices and push the world economy towards a crippling recession.
Elsewhere, Israel has continued to pound southern Lebanon and it appears the country could launch a ground invasion against Iranian proxy Hezbollah.
It has given an evacuation order for civilians living south of the Litani River, with one million residents now displaced.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday: ‘We are expanding this security zone to keep the threat of anti-tank missiles away from our communities and our territory.
‘We are simply creating a larger buffer zone. Now the issue of dismantling Hezbollah is at the forefront of our minds. This is also linked to the broader campaign against Iran, which is still in full swing, contrary to what is being reported in the media.’
Tehran has so far responded to the US-Israeli operation by firing missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz. It is at present only allowing a small number of ships from friendly countries through.
This action has sparked a global energy crisis and rocked the world economy. As a result, the US has faced pressure from allies to reopen the strait to bring down oil prices.
