New Delhi, March,02,2026: The United States military has sunk nine Iranian naval vessels, according to US President Donald Trump. The claim was made on Saturday as fighting between the US, Israel, and Iran continued.
Trump said the attacks also caused major damage to Iran’s naval headquarters. He described the ongoing military campaign as successful and progressing as planned.
Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had been informed that nine Iranian ships, some of them large, were destroyed. He added that further strikes were planned against remaining Iranian naval assets.
In a separate statement, Trump said Iran’s naval headquarters was largely destroyed in another attack. Despite this, he added that Iran’s navy was otherwise “doing very well,” without providing further details.
Trump also claimed that at least 48 Iranian leaders were killed during US-Israeli bombardments. He described the offensive as “very positive” and said the operation was moving rapidly.
In interviews with US media outlets, Trump said the campaign was launched with the goal of removing Iran’s leadership and weakening its military capabilities. He said the situation was evolving positively and was ahead of schedule.
Iran has confirmed the death of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported naval losses cited by Trump.
The US military later acknowledged casualties for the first time since the conflict began. Officials said three US service members were killed, five were seriously wounded, and several others sustained minor injuries.
US Central Command said an Iranian warship was also sunk at a dock in the Gulf of Oman. No additional operational details were released.
Separately, maritime security agencies reported multiple incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels were struck by projectiles in separate attacks, causing fires that were later brought under control. Crews were reported safe.
Iranian state television reported that an oil tanker was sinking after being hit while transiting the strait. The continued attacks have raised concerns about wider regional instability.
Tehran also appeared to target a building complex in Abu Dhabi housing several foreign missions, including the Israeli embassy. Authorities in the region have not released detailed assessments.
Officials said developments in the conflict remain fluid, with further military and diplomatic responses expected in the coming days.
