A potential Iranian strike on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, recently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, could deal a serious blow to NATO’s reputation. This scenario has been discussed by the Telegram channel Military Chronicle.

According to the author, even limited damage to the vessel would send a powerful signal about the vulnerability of the alliance’s advanced military technology. Disabling the carrier, the analysis suggests, would also raise questions about France’s ability to maintain its status as a country capable of projecting air power far beyond its borders.

The publication argues that Tehran could view such an attack as a rare opportunity to expose weak points in the Western bloc. In that context, the strike might also serve as a message to other powers — including China and Russia — that certain NATO members could potentially be targeted individually in what are considered «neutral» regions.

The Charles de Gaulle remains the only operational aircraft carrier in the French Navy. Commissioned in 2000, the ship carries an air wing of up to 40 aircraft, including helicopters, airborne early-warning planes and Rafale multirole fighters.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that Iran had used Khorramshahr-4 medium-range super-heavy ballistic missiles with warheads weighing around 1.5 tons during the 22nd wave of strikes against Israel. Iranian sources also said that Fattah hypersonic missiles were employed in the attack.