In a dangerous escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran reportedly launched a missile strike targeting the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier and symbol of American naval power.
Earlier that day, the carrier entered the vital oil corridor with 4,700 sailors and nearly 100 aircraft onboard, escorted by a full strike group including Arleigh Burke destroyers. Iranian radar tracked the fleet for hours before U.S. intelligence intercepted a chilling encrypted message: “Package delivery authorized for afternoon transit.”
Within minutes, Iranian missile batteries shifted to high alert. Alarm sirens sounded across the Roosevelt as the crew rushed to battle stations, marking the start of a tense 32-minute standoff that underscored rising U.S.–Iran tensions and the fragile security of global oil routes.