Iran Threatens to Target Support Network of USS Gerald R. Ford

Iran has warned that logistical and service facilities supporting the United States aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford would be considered legitimate military targets.

According to Iranian media outlet Press TV, authorities in Tehran stated that the support centres providing services to the American carrier group deployed in the Red Sea are now viewed as part of the vessel’s operational network and therefore legitimate targets under wartime conditions.

Iranian officials said the move is intended to deter further military actions against the country.

The warning comes amid an ongoing confrontation involving Iran, the United States and its allies in the region.

Over recent weeks, both sides have exchanged attacks targeting military assets, infrastructure and shipping routes across the Gulf region.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is among the most advanced warships operated by the United States Navy and has been deployed as part of a carrier strike group aimed at strengthening Washington’s military presence in West Asia.

The carrier typically operates with escort vessels including guided missile destroyers and cruisers, along with support ships responsible for logistics and maintenance.

The broader conflict has disrupted maritime security and energy routes in the Middle East. Missile and drone attacks have been reported across several Gulf countries, raising concerns about the safety of key shipping lanes and oil transport routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.

Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis have so far produced limited progress, while regional governments warn that further military escalation could threaten global energy supplies and stability across the Middle East.

Iranian authorities have reiterated that their actions are a response to what they describe as aggression by the United States and its allies.

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group continues to symbolise Washington’s military posture in the region as tensions remain high.

How Is France Responding to Iran’s Actions?

Amid the rising tensions, French President Emmanuel Macron said he urged Iran to end attacks across the Middle East and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian.

In a post on X following the conversation, Macron wrote, "I have just spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian."

Macron said he called on Tehran to immediately halt what he described as unacceptable attacks carried out directly or through allied groups in the region.

The French President also stated that Paris is acting only to defend its interests and regional partners.

What Did Emmanuel Macron Say About Iran’s Nuclear Program and Regional Activities?

"I reminded him that France is acting within a strictly defensive framework aimed at protecting its interests, its regional partners, and freedom of navigation, and that it is unacceptable for our country to be targeted," he said.

Macron warned that escalating tensions risk destabilising the entire Middle East and harming civilians across the region.

"The unchecked escalation we are witnessing is plunging the entire region into chaos, with major consequences today and for the years to come. The people of Iran, like those across the region, are paying the price," he said.

He added that long term stability would require a new political and security framework addressing Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.

"Only a new political and security framework can ensure peace and security for all. Such a framework must guarantee that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, while also addressing the threats posed by its ballistic missile programme and its destabilising activities regionally and internationally," he said.

Macron also called for restoring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

"Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored as soon as possible," he said.

The French president also urged Iran to release two French nationals detained in the country.

"I also urged the Iranian President to allow Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris to return safely to France as soon as possible. Their ordeal has gone on for far too long, and they belong with their loved ones."

(With inputs from ANI)