Washington DC [US], March 26 (ANI): A day after Iran’s navy said the USS Abraham Lincoln had been forced to shift position following a barrage of cruise missiles, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the carrier remains active and conducting flight operations against military targets in Iran while operating in regional waters.
In a post on X, CENTCOM wrote that “USS Abraham Lincoln continues flight operations against military targets in Iran while sailing in regional waters.” The carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.
Iran’s navy had warned the United States that the carrier was under close surveillance and could be struck if it approached Iranian territory. State broadcaster Press TV quoted Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani saying the ship was being monitored and would be targeted if it entered the range of Iran’s missile systems.
The naval warning followed broader criticism from senior Iranian military officials of U.S. influence and policy. Press TV cited Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, saying the “strategic power” once displayed by the U.S. has “turned into a strategic defeat.”
Those remarks came after a notable de-escalation by U.S. President Donald Trump, who stepped back from a 48-hour ultimatum to strike Iranian power plants. Trump’s shift followed Tehran’s warning that any such attack would prompt reciprocal strikes on energy and power infrastructure across the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi told state media that Tehran will continue a policy of “resistance” in response to what it calls “unprovoked American-Israeli aggression,” and said it will not enter negotiations or accept a ceasefire without reliable guarantees. “At present, our policy is to continue resistance, and no negotiations have taken place,” Araghchi said in a televised interview, adding that there are no ongoing talks and questioning the reliability of external assurances.
Separately, speaking at the NRCC Annual Fundraising Dinner, President Trump remarked that “there has never been a head of a country who wanted that job less than being the head of Iran,” while asserting U.S. successes in the region and suggesting Iran seeks a deal but fears internal and external consequences.
(This report is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the original feed.)
