For the first time, Iran has—maybe—fired electro-optical missiles at U.S. warships and, although unsuccessfully, effectively enough to suggest that “Tehran may still be receiving assistance from Russia or China to track the location of US warships” (The Telegraph, September 9, 2026).
In April, intelligence reports found that Chinese and Russian satellites were secretly providing the Islamic Republic with critical imagery to target US military bases.
Russia has long exchanged weapons with Iran and provided drone expertise during the war.
In May, the US sanctioned China-based entities for providing satellite imagery to Iran during the war. Two months later, it was revealed that China was sending 400 rocket launchers to Iran in a new deal, underscoring their increased military ties….
The missiles [just used on American warships] are likely to include electro-optical seekers, which use cameras and light sensors to see, track, and hit targets with high precision.
Tehran unveiled the Qassem Bassir, a new medium-range ballistic missile with this technology, last year. It is unclear whether this was the specific type launched at the US ships.
According to U.S. Central Command, Iran’s recent attacks on U.S. warships failed.
CENTCOM acknowledges “close calls” but has not itself publicly stated that the Iranian missiles which just attacked U.S. warships were equipped with electro-optical sensors. The Telegraph’s report and other reports are provisionally accepting Iran’s own claims that the missiles were equipped with them. But Iran has propagandistic reasons to lie about it if the sensors are not yet operating.
In a missile with a functioning EO sensor used for guidance, the sensor senses visible light and converts it into electronic signals that the missile can use to track the target and home in. Missiles equipped with electro-optical sensors can resist or are immune to various countermeasures, and they are harder to detect and can target more precisely than certain other self-adjusting missiles.
