At a Glance

• Iran has reportedly used an advanced anti-ship missile in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The reported missile uses optical guidance and does not rely on GPS.
• CENTCOM denies that any U.S. aircraft carriers were struck or damaged.
• The IRGC has warned of possible attacks on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.

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Iran has reportedly deployed an advanced anti-ship missile in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with the United States escalate. U.S. Central Command says American vessels remain operational and denies that any aircraft carriers were hit.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Missile Technology: The missile operates via optical sensors and cameras, rendering it highly resistant to electronic signal jamming. — New York Post report.
• U.S. Response: No aircraft carriers were struck, and U.S. vessels remain operational. — U.S. Central Command.
• Regional Warning: The IRGC has issued warnings against U.S. military positions in the region, including bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, and called on naval crews to evacuate their positions. — Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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The New York Post reported that Iran used the advanced anti-ship missile in the Strait of Hormuz for the first time. The reported weapon is identified as the Qassem Bassir and is equipped with optical sensors and cameras for guidance.

The missile reportedly carries a half-ton warhead and has a range exceeding 1,200 kilometers. Its optical guidance system allows it to operate without GPS and is designed to make the weapon more resistant to electronic jamming.

The reported missile launch came as part of an Iranian retaliation following the destruction of five Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island, according to the report. Iran reportedly launched missiles toward 10 U.S. vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and a military base in Jordan. CENTCOM confirmed that attacks took place but said missiles launched toward Jordan were intercepted.

CENTCOM has separately said it destroyed 10 Iranian oil tankers over the past week. The developments have added to concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit route.

FYI

The deployment of the Qassem Bassir marks the official combat debut of one of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) most advanced anti-ship ballistic missiles. Unveiled by the Iranian Defense Ministry in May 2025, the solid-fueled projectile is a modernized derivative of the "Haj Qassem" series, named in memory of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in 2020.

Unlike conventional ballistic weapons that follow a fixed trajectory and rely strictly on preset GPS coordinates, rendering them vulnerable to electronic jamming and ineffective against moving naval targets, the Qassem Bassir features a detachable, maneuverable re-entry vehicle (MaRV) equipped with terminal electro-optical and infrared imaging sensors.

This technology allows the missile to visually home in on the physical shape and thermal signature of a moving warship completely autonomously. Boasting a 1,200-kilometer range and a 500-kilogram warhead, Tehran has put the platform at the center of its maritime deterrence strategy to directly challenge the air defense screens of U.S. carrier strike groups within regional chokepoints.

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