Iran installs fake US aircraft carrier in Hormuz Strait...suspected model for live-fire training

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Iran has attracted attention by installing a fake aircraft carrier modeled after a U.S. aircraft carrier for live-fire training off the coast of Bandar Abbas port in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Iran announced at the end of last month that it would deploy additional high-speed boats around the Strait of Hormuz, provoking the United States and continuing the standoff.

On the 9th (local time), according to the Associated Press, a satellite from Maxar Technologies, a U.S. satellite company, captured the fake aircraft carrier deployed at Bandar Abbas port, a port city in Iran located in the Strait of Hormuz. The model aircraft carrier is estimated to be about 60% the size of the U.S. Navy's main Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and was installed for live-fire training. Iranian authorities have not yet commented on the matter.

Previously, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced at the end of last month that it would deploy 112 armed high-speed boats in the Strait of Hormuz, provoking the United States. The aircraft carrier model is reported to be located very close to the base where the high-speed boats are deployed. The U.S. military and the IRGC have continued their standoff since a close-range confrontation in international waters near the Persian Gulf in April. At that time, six U.S. Navy ships were conducting a joint operation when 11 IRGC high-speed boats approached within about 9 meters, threatening and provoking the U.S. ships before withdrawing.

In 2015, the IRGC also provoked the United States by releasing footage on Iranian state TV showing a model aircraft carrier being destroyed by anti-ship missiles during military exercises.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.