Iran’s Supreme National Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has claimed that Iran launched an anti-ship missile directly against a US vessel for the first time
TEHRAN, Iran | September 7, 2026 | The Global Journal
Iran’s Supreme National Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has claimed that Iran launched an anti-ship missile directly against a US vessel for the first time, in what could mark a significant escalation in the ongoing military tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Speaking in a televised interview, Rezaei said Iran had conducted the missile operation approximately 48 hours earlier, claiming that the weapon posed a serious threat to the US vessel and forced it to withdraw.
“Forty-eight hours ago, for the first time, we tested an Iranian anti-destroyer missile against an American ship,” Rezaei said.
However, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has not publicly confirmed the Iranian claim. There has also been no independent confirmation that a US vessel was actually struck or damaged in the reported incident.
The claim comes amid increasingly sharp warnings between the two countries over military activity and maritime operations in the region.
In a post on X on Sunday, CENTCOM issued a direct warning to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), saying that any further attacks on US vessels would trigger a significantly stronger response.
“The message to the Revolutionary Guards is clear: if you fire on our two ships, we will impose a much greater economic cost on you and destroy three of your ships,” CENTCOM said in the post.
The US command also warned that Washington would not hesitate to defend its forces and could target Iran’s oil tanker fleet if necessary.
Meanwhile, Rezaei warned of possible consequences for commercial vessels operating in the region without consulting Iran. According to his remarks, ships that operate without coordination with Tehran could be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.
Such vessels could subsequently face difficulties related to insurance, restrictions on maritime operations and other economic or logistical consequences, he said.
The exchange of threats highlights the growing risks surrounding maritime security in the region, particularly as tensions involving military vessels and oil shipments continue to intensify.
Any direct confrontation between Iranian and US forces at sea could have wider implications for regional security, commercial shipping and global energy markets, particularly if tensions spread to strategically important waterways.
For now, however, Iran’s claim of launching an anti-ship missile against a US vessel remains unverified. Neither the reported target nor any potential damage has been independently confirmed, leaving key details of the incident unclear.
