New Delhi: Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated dramatically following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike, with Iranian forces launching a bold missile attack on the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf.
This retaliatory strike has sparked global fears of an all-out war in the Middle East, threatening to disrupt energy supplies and international markets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the assault on Sunday, stating in an official release: “An attack occurred on the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles.” They further warned that “the sea, land, and air would increasingly become graves for terrorist attackers,” signalling a readiness for prolonged conflict. The USS Abraham Lincoln, America’s second-largest carrier, had been deployed to the region in January alongside three guided-missile destroyers to strengthen naval presence. It was later joined by the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest carrier, and additional vessels from the Caribbean, bolstering over 10,000 US troops in the area.
The crisis erupted after Saturday’s US-Israeli operation that eliminated Khamenei, prompting widespread unrest. Israel followed up with heavy bombardments on Tehran, while Iran countered with drone and missile strikes on Israeli targets, US bases in the Gulf, and even Dubai’s commercial district. In Pakistan, protests turned violent, with at least 10 people killed after demonstrators stormed the US consulate.
US President Donald Trump, announcing the strikes, urged Iranians to “seize the moment and take control,” framing the action as a chance for political reform amid Iran’s economic woes and anti-government protests. The attacks come amid stalled nuclear talks, during which Washington demanded Tehran halt its atomic program.
This volatile situation has left Muslim nations largely on the sidelines, wary of entanglement, as the world braces for potential escalation.