U.S. Navy Fires on Iranian Vessel Near USS Abraham Lincoln in Arabian Sea
Two U.S. officials tell CBS News that earlier this week an Iranian vessel sailed too close to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, prompting U.S. forces to fire on it in what amounts to a direct ship-to-ship clash in the ongoing Iran war. A U.S. Navy ship in the Lincoln strike group first tried to hit the vessel with its 5‑inch/54‑caliber Mark 45 gun but missed several times, after which a helicopter launched from the group struck the Iranian ship with two Hellfire missiles; the condition of the vessel and its crew remains unknown. The Lincoln is one of two American carriers deployed to the region and is currently operating with destroyers including the USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy, amid a broader campaign that U.S. Central Command says has already damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels. CENTCOM declined to comment on this particular engagement, a tight‑lipped posture that contrasts with earlier public accounts of shooting down an aggressive Iranian Shahed‑139 drone near the carrier in February and fuels questions online about how close Iranian forces are getting to high‑value U.S. assets. The incident underscores how crowded and dangerous the maritime battlespace around Iran has become, with any miscalculation near a U.S. flattop carrying the potential to drive a major escalation that would reverberate through global energy markets and U.S. domestic politics.
📌 Key Facts
- Incident occurred earlier this week in the Arabian Sea involving an Iranian vessel and the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
- A U.S. Navy ship fired multiple rounds from a 5‑inch/54‑caliber Mark 45 gun at the Iranian vessel and missed.
- A helicopter then hit the Iranian vessel with two Hellfire missiles; the status of the ship and crew is unknown.
- U.S. Central Command declined public comment, while officials say U.S. forces have damaged or destroyed over 90 Iranian vessels since the war began.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2024, there are approximately 750,000 Iranian Americans in the U.S., making up 0.2% of the population.
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
California has the largest Iranian-American population with 223,959 residents as of 2024, followed by Texas with 44,171.
Iranian Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Most Iranian immigration to the U.S. increased dramatically after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War due to political instability and conflict.
Immigrants from Iran in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 increased Iranian immigration by abolishing national origins quotas and introducing family-sponsored preferences, leading to a surge in permanent residencies.
Iranian Americans — PAAIA
In a 2025 poll, 53% of Iranian Americans oppose U.S. military action against Iran, while 36% support it.
NIAC-YOUGOV POLL 2025 — National Iranian American Council
Utilities serving predominantly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) areas in states like California and New York charged higher electricity rates (up to 33% higher in California IOUs in 2021) compared to those serving predominantly White areas, leading to higher energy burdens despite lower consumption.
Race, rates, and energy insecurity: exploring racial disparities in electricity costs and consumption in U.S. utility service areas — Scientific Reports (Nature)
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