by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Iran was weighing its options Tuesday after U.S. forces said they had destroyed much of its navy as part of the expanding war between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media platform X that “Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman — today they have ZERO.”
In remarks monitored by Worthy News, CENTCOM added that the “Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over.”
CENTCOM stressed that freedom of maritime navigation has “underpinned American and global economic prosperity for more than 80 years” and said U.S. forces would continue to defend it.
The command also rejected Iranian claims that its forces had destroyed a U.S. military vessel.
CENTCOM REJECTS IRANIAN CLAIMS
“The Iranian regime’s false messaging machine continues to falsely claim that it has sunk a U.S. aircraft carrier. The TRUTH: The only carrier that has been hit is the Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier,” CENTCOM wrote on X.
It added that U.S. forces struck the vessel within hours of launching Operation Epic Fury alongside Israel. Video footage reviewed by Worthy News appeared to show the destruction of at least one Iranian warship, with a mushroom-shaped cloud rising over the water.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — referred to by the Trump administration as “Secretary of War” — warned Iran that maritime security would be enforced.
“Shipping lanes aren’t optional. Global trade runs on secure seas. If you threaten maritime freedom, you LOSE your fleet,” Hegseth wrote.
The developments came as major media organizations adjusted their language to describe the scale of the conflict.
ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLS IT ‘WAR’
The Associated Press (AP), often viewed as a benchmark for newsroom terminology, said it would use the term “war” to describe the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation.
“This reflects the scope and intensity of the fighting,” the AP explained.
The news agency noted that U.S. and Israeli forces attacked military targets and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders, while Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and several Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. armed forces.
Remaining Iranian leaders have vowed revenge over Khamenei’s death.
FEARS OF PROLONGED CONFLICT
The AP said the strikes and counterstrikes indicate that the conflict could become prolonged, particularly after U.S. President Donald J. Trump publicly called for the overthrow of Iran’s decades-old Islamic Republic.
Trump himself has repeatedly used the term “war” to describe the fighting.
Citing Merriam-Webster, the AP noted that war is defined broadly as “a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations,” or “a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism.”
“At this point, the level of fighting constitutes the countries being at war, no matter what happens next,” the AP said, adding that even if fighting were to end soon, it would continue describing the nations as having been at war.
As Iran assesses its next move following significant naval losses, analysts warn that the confrontation could reshape regional security dynamics for years to come.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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