Iran launched another attack on US navy ships Monday, with fears of China, Russia aid: Report - The Times of India

**Iran Launches Second Wave of Attacks on U.S. Naval Assets Amid Growing Regional Tensions**

Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday that it had carried out a second wave of hostile actions against United States Navy vessels operating in the strategic waters of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IRGC, the attacks involved “modern, unmanned” platforms, including a claim that a U.S. submarine was seized in the narrow waterway. The Iranian statement, echoed by state‑run media outlets such as *The Times of India* and *NDTV*, framed the operation as a defensive response to what it described as ongoing U.S. “economic warfare” and a broader effort to enforce a Gulf exclusion zone that would limit foreign military presence.

The United States, however, has disputed Iran’s narrative. Officials confirmed that an underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV) deployed by the U.S. Navy experienced a technical malfunction in the region, but they denied any loss of a submarine or direct engagement with Iranian forces. The incident was reported by the *Deccan Herald* and has been characterized by U.S. defense spokespeople as an isolated equipment failure rather than evidence of a successful Iranian capture. In the wake of the attacks, the U.S. Seventh Fleet heightened its alert status and began additional patrols to secure shipping lanes vital to global oil supplies.

Analysts are closely watching the episode for signs of external support to Iran. Intelligence briefings cited by *India Today* and *Telegraph India* suggest that Moscow and Beijing may be providing covert logistical or diplomatic backing, though concrete evidence remains limited. The possibility of such assistance raises concerns about a broader alignment of anti‑U.S. forces in the region, potentially escalating the already volatile security environment. Washington has warned that any further aggression could trigger a calibrated response, while Tehran continues to leverage the narrative of “economic warfare” to justify its expanded missile posture and calls for a permanent exclusion zone in the Gulf.