Washington — Former U.S. intelligence officer and ex-United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter has issued a stark warning over rising tensions with Iran, claiming that America’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, could be vulnerable in the event of open conflict.
Ritter described the warship as a potential “sitting duck,” arguing that Iran possesses the capability to target and sink major U.S. naval assets if hostilities escalate.
Mounting Warnings from U.S. Circles
His remarks come amid broader caution from American military officials and generals, who have reportedly characterized any direct military confrontation with Tehran as an “uncalculated gamble.”
Some officials have pointed to what they describe as Iran’s rigid negotiating posture and its growing missile and naval capabilities as indicators of heightened risk in the region.
According to these assessments, Tehran may possess advanced — and possibly undeclared — weapons systems that could complicate U.S. military operations and significantly raise the cost of engagement.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, one of the U.S. Navy’s most powerful nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, represents a central pillar of American force projection. Any credible threat to such an asset would mark a dramatic shift in regional military calculations.
While Ritter’s comments reflect his personal assessment, they underscore the growing debate within U.S. defense and intelligence circles about the potential consequences of escalation with Iran.
As diplomatic channels remain strained and military assets remain positioned across strategic waters, the stakes in the standoff appear higher than ever — with analysts warning that miscalculation on either side could trigger far-reaching consequences.
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