Iran strikes USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles after gulf escalation, Reports claim
PERSIAN GULF: Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Sunday, March 1, that it has "struck" the USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles in the Persian Gulf.
The claim, carried by Iran's state-run media, followed the confirmed deaths of the country's supreme leader and president during joint US-Israeli operations.
The IRGC issued a stark warning alongside the announcement, stating that "the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of ... aggressors."
While the Iranian side was projecting a successful hit, there was no official confirmation that any missiles managed to evade the carrier's advanced defense systems.
Central Command declines to confirm strike
When contacted by CBS News regarding the Iranian claims, a representative for the US military's Central Command declined to comment on the status of the vessel.
Similarly, there was no immediate response from the US Navy's Fifth Fleet to requests for information.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, which the Navy described as "the largest warship in the world."
These vessels are 333 meters long and capable of moving 100,000 tons of equipment, including 65 aircraft and multiple missile mounts.
Part of Trump's massive regional armada
🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇷⚡️BREAKING - Iran releases footage of today's launches of ballistic missiles targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea with four Ballistic missiles.
— War Updates (@WarUpdates) March 1, 2026
The IRGC claims it has targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea with… pic.twitter.com/NmplwbVD1F
The Lincoln was deployed to the region in late January as a key component of what President Donald Trump described as an "armada."
The deployment was ordered "just in case" as tensions spiked over the Iranian regime's crackdown on protesters and its sustained nuclear ambitions.
The carrier had been operating in the Arabian Sea, south of Iran, for weeks prior to the reported escalation. This massive military buildup was intended to defend American interests and provide "overwhelming strength" in the event of open hostilities.
Graveyard warning issued to aggressors
On the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, what looks like a random rush of jets and people is actually a well-orchestrated routine. Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are trained to work as a team to launch and recover safely and on time, every time. pic.twitter.com/64ubKaG1wC
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 5, 2026
The IRGC’s statement came amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf following the reported collapse of Iran’s leadership structure.
By referencing a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, the group appeared to signal that it retained operational strike capabilities despite the loss of its supreme leader.
US officials continue to monitor the "largest warship in the world" as it navigates these contested waters. The potential for further missile exchanges remains high as both sides weigh the consequences of this reported engagement.
