Trump says US forces sunk 9 Iranian naval vessels in new strikes

2026-03-02 - 00:12

US President Donald Trump declared Sunday that American naval forces have destroyed nine Iranian vessels, significantly degrading Tehran's maritime capabilities in the second day of coordinated US-Israeli strikes. "We are going after the rest — they will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, claiming the destroyed ships included some "relatively large and important" vessels. In a separate attack, Trump stated that Iranian naval headquarters had been "largely destroyed," adding with sarcasm: "Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!" CENTCOM confirms corvette sinking United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported earlier Sunday that US forces struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette in the Gulf of Oman. "The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier," the command stated on social media platform X. CENTCOM also relayed Trump's call for Iranian armed forces, the Revolutionary Guards and police to "lay down your weapons" with the message "Abandon ship." Iran has not yet confirmed any of the naval strikes, maintaining silence on the extent of damage to its fleet. Campaign expands on multiple fronts The naval engagements mark a significant expansion of the US-Israeli operation that began Saturday with airstrikes killing several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sought to project stability Sunday, claiming state institutions remained intact and suggesting a new supreme leader could be chosen shortly. The dual-track approach of military pressure and political messaging underscores the complexity of the moment as Iran's leadership structures face unprecedented challenges. Regional fallout continues As US forces continue targeting Iranian naval assets, Gulf states are grappling with the spillover effects of the expanding conflict. The UAE and Bahrain reported intercepting hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles, while questions persist about potential Saudi involvement following Trump's suggestions that Riyadh is already participating. With Trump projecting a four-week campaign timeline and naval operations intensifying, the region faces prolonged instability as the US-Israeli coalition presses its advantage against Iran's decapitated leadership.