Donald Trump, President of the United States, claimed that US forces sank nine Iranian naval ships. He made the announcement on Truth Social on March 1, 2026. The statement came during major combat operations against Iran.
Trump’s Detailed Claim
Trump stated, “I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!” He described the operations as ahead of schedule.
In addition, Trump highlighted the destruction of Iran’s naval headquarters in a separate strike. US Central Command reported three US service members killed in the operation. Five others sustained wounds.
Iranian Retaliation Efforts
Iran launched missiles and drones at US and Israeli bases. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed attacks on commercial tankers in response. Iranian forces also targeted Dubai and Riyadh.
However, no immediate Iranian statement addressed Trump’s specific claim on the ships. Earlier, Brigadier General Mohammad Jafar Asadi dismissed US warship deployments as propaganda. He vowed a strong response to any aggression.
Broader Military Context
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, with US-Israel strikes on Iran. Reports indicated explosions in Tehran and other sites. Iran vowed intense retaliation.
Meanwhile the US prioritized Iran’s missile arsenal. Independent verification of Trump’s naval claims remained unavailable at the time. The strikes disrupted regional shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated across the Middle East.
“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cIczM80K1Z— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 1, 2026
