Iran is likely to keep targeting U.S. naval facilities in the Middle East if the conflict escalates further and the American military expands its strikes, retired Captain First Rank and military expert Vasily Dandykin told aif.ru.

The discussion followed a statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming that Iran had attacked a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Oman. According to Tehran, the American warship tried to move toward Iran’s territorial waters and was then struck. The Iranian side said the target was a command-and-control center located on board the vessel. The U.S. military has denied that the destroyer was hit.

Dandykin described the situation as a back-and-forth exchange of claims between Tehran and Washington: Iran says it carried out the attack, while the United States insists the ship was not damaged. He noted that strikes are being launched against U.S. military infrastructure, including naval sites, particularly in Kuwait and other countries.

According to the expert, Iran is responding to attacks by hitting American ships and bases. At the same time, he said, serious negotiations are continuing in parallel. Dandykin also pointed out that Iran has largely restored its combat capability.

He separately drew attention to the Strait of Hormuz, where up to 80 percent of passing vessels were stopped. Dandykin said the United States is blocking movement on one side, while Iran is preventing ships linked to Israel from leaving on the other.