U.S. fired at Iranian vessel that approached aircraft carrier, officials say

A series of confrontations between American and Iranian naval forces in the Arabian Sea has escalated significantly, with the latest incident involving a direct engagement between a U.S. Navy vessel and an Iranian ship that sailed dangerously close to one of America’s most powerful aircraft carriers.

The Incident

Iran blows up replica US warship in drills

A significant naval confrontation unfolded in the Arabian Sea earlier this week when an Iranian vessel approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier at an uncomfortably close distance, prompting American forces to open fire on the ship. The incident was confirmed by two U.S. officials who were briefed on the matter and spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to make public statements.

According to the officials, a U.S. Navy vessel initially attempted to engage the Iranian ship using its 5-inch, 54-caliber Mark-45 naval gun. This weapon is a fully automated deck-mounted cannon that has been a standard fixture on American Navy destroyers and cruisers since the early 1970s. The gun is mounted on the forward deck of these warships and is considered one of the most reliable and widely used naval artillery systems in the United States fleet.