Iran targets US military vessel hosting command centre in Sea of Oman

The Iranian navy has targeted a US military vessel in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, according to state media as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate. According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, the vessel was hosting a "command and control centre" and was approaching Iranian territorial waters when it was targeted. Iranian military officials cited recent US actions against Iranian commercial vessels and what they described as violations of regulations governing passage through the Strait of Hormuz as the reason for the operation. The report did not provide details on the extent of any damage or whether there were casualties. Read Full Story However, minutes later, US Central Command dismissed the claim. "Iran is lying. US military assets at sea continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and unimpeded," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X. The latest flare-up came a day after the Iranian attack on Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities said Iranian drones and missiles struck Kuwait International airport compounds, killing one Indian citizen and injuring more than 60 others. The attack temporarily halted flights and caused significant damage to infrastructure. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied responsibility for the damage at the airport terminal. An IRGC spokesperson claimed the destruction was caused by a malfunction in a US-made Patriot missile defence system rather than an Iranian strike. The explanation was quickly rejected by Washington. "Iran struck the civilian airport with drones in a deliberate, calculated, and unjustified attack," CENTCOM said, directly contradicting Tehran's version of events. MILITARY ACTIONS CONTINUE Hostilities across the region have continued despite diplomatic efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire reached in early April. Iranian media earlier reported attacks on the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, a US airbase and a vessel identified as Panaya. US officials denied the claims and said Iranian missiles failed to reach their intended targets. At the same time, CENTCOM announced a new round of what it described as defensive operations inside southern Iran. According to the US military, forces targeted missile launch sites, struck Iranian boats allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines and carried out operations on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. FRESH VIOLENCE COMPLICATES PEACE EFFORTS The latest flare-up comes even as Washington and Tehran continue to explore a possible agreement aimed at ending the conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations had not collapsed but admitted that no significant progress had been made. Tehran continues to insist that any settlement must also address fighting in Lebanon, where clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted despite ceasefire efforts. US President Donald Trump has maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his top priority. Tehran, meanwhile, is seeking sanctions relief, access to frozen oil revenues and an easing of restrictions on its exports. Ends With inputs from agencies