Just hours after the start of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, U.S. forces targeted the Shahid Bagheri, which is Iran's first drone carrier, according to the U.S. military.
The U.S. Central Command released a statement addressing Iranian claims on social media, saying: “The Iranian regime is spreading false information, claiming they have sunk a U.S. aircraft carrier. The TRUTH is that the only carrier hit is the Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier. U.S. forces struck this ship shortly after launching Operation Epic Fury.”
CENTCOM later tweeted that they had sunk all 11 Iranian navy ships in the Gulf of Oman. They stated, “The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over. Freedom of maritime navigation has supported American and global economic prosperity for over 80 years. U.S. forces will continue to defend it.”
The drone carrier was originally a commercial container ship named Perarin before being converted between 2022 and 2024. It is operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) and was specifically designed as a platform for launching drones and helicopters.
Iran added a large, angled flight deck of about 180 meters, giving the ship a look reminiscent of a small aircraft carrier. It is believed to support various UAVs, helicopters, and short- to medium-range air defense systems.
Named after IRGC commander Bahman Bagheri, who died during the Iran-Iraq War, the ship was built for long missions, possibly allowing Iran to project drone capabilities beyond its coastal waters.
While the Shahid Bagheri took part in exercises with China and Russia during the 2024 Maritime Security Belt drills in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, there are no confirmed reports of it being deployed widely beyond the Gulf.
President Trump confirmed on social media that nine Iranian naval vessels had been sunk, stating: “We are going after the rest – They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a separate attack, we significantly damaged their Naval Headquarters.”
CENTCOM had previously confirmed the sinking of an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette at a pier in Chah Bahar during the early hours of the operation.
As of now, the strike on the Shahid Bagheri and its current status have not been independently verified.
This incident marks one of the first major naval confrontations linked to U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, a campaign that has already heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf and further disrupted commercial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.