Iran deployed a new class of electro-optical missiles in a coordinated overnight attack on American warships near the Strait of Hormuz and military bases in Jordan on Wednesday, marking the first combat use of the advanced weapons system against United States forces.

Coordinated Strike on American Forces

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard launched waves of strikes targeting ten United States Navy ships positioned near the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway while simultaneously attacking American military installations in Jordan. United States Central Command confirmed the assault but reported that defensive systems successfully intercepted all incoming missiles, preventing casualties or damage to American forces and vessels in both theaters.

Iranian officials described the operation as retaliation for American strikes that destroyed five oil tankers near the Kharg Island oil terminal, a critical hub for Tehran’s petroleum exports. Iranian military command stated the attacks represented legitimate defensive action under international law, specifically citing Jordan’s role in supporting American military operations against Iranian interests throughout the region.

Advanced Missile Technology Debuts

Iran introduced the weapons system late last year under the designation Qassem Bassir, a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with advanced optical sensors. The regime claims these sensors enable precision targeting without relying on GPS satellite navigation, potentially making the missiles resistant to electronic jamming and other defensive countermeasures employed by American naval forces.

Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, confirmed a special anti-destroyer missile participated in Wednesday’s attack, though officials did not definitively identify whether the Qassem Bassir system was deployed. Rezaei characterized the weapons as part of an evolving defense strategy aimed at countering American naval superiority in Middle Eastern waters.

Regional Security and Economic Impact

The Revolutionary Guard issued warnings of imminent strikes on additional oil tankers and military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, directing civilian crews to evacuate vessels immediately. The escalating attacks through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles twenty percent of global oil transportation, triggered immediate market reactions as crude oil prices surged above one hundred dollars per barrel for the first time since July.

Combined with strikes by Iran-backed Houthi forces on Saudi petroleum infrastructure, the attacks raise significant concerns about commercial shipping security and energy market stability throughout the Persian Gulf region.