Goa, Sept. 6 -- Military tensions between Iran and the United States escalated after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it fired several ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer in the region.

In a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC alleged that the two US Navy vessels were harassing Iranian ships and participating in a naval blockade. It claimed both warships sustained damage and were forced to leave the conflict area amid fears of further attacks.

The claim came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had struck three Iranian crude oil carriers on September 5. CENTCOM said the strikes followed Iranian ballistic missile attacks targeting two US Navy warsh...