Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has unveiled what it calls two “special” anti‑ship missiles it claims were used to hit a U.S. warship, escalating the propaganda war at sea as the Iran–Israel–U.S. conflict deepens.

In a choreographed TV event in Tehran, IRGC commanders rolled out models of the “Nasr‑2R” and “Khalij Fars‑M” missiles, dubbing them the “twin daggers of the Gulf.” They insist the Nasr‑2R — a sea‑skimming cruise missile with an AI‑ᴀssisted seeker — and the Khalij Fars‑M — a manoeuvring ballistic missile capable of near‑vertical terminal dives — both scored impacts on a U.S. destroyer escorting an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

Footage aired by state media shows a missile streaking low over choppy water, followed by a distant fireball on the horizon and frantic English‑language radio chatter. Iranian captions proclaim: “Direct Hit On The Invader’s Ship.”

The Pentagon flatly denies that account, confirming only that a destroyer suffered “topside damage” and minor injuries when debris from intercepted projectiles caused a small fire that was quickly contained. “No Iranian missile achieved a clean hit,” a U.S. official insists, calling Tehran’s showcase “theatre for domestic consumption.”

Analysts, however, say the technical details Iran revealed — including dual‑mode seekers and terminal manoeuvre profiles — suggest a real leap in anti‑ship capability, even if the battle damage is disputed.

For navies patrolling from Hormuz to the Indian Ocean, the spectacle in Tehran sends a clear message: whether or not these two “special missiles” truly hit a U.S. warship, Iran wants the world to believe they can — and that belief alone may change how close Western fleets dare to sail.