On June 18, 2025, at 08:43 a.m. ET, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern told the independent Consortium News that the United States could fake the sinking of its oldest nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, off the coast of Iran to blame Tehran for the attack. He said such a false flag operation would create a pretext for formally launching military action against Iran. The statement comes amid an escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict that began with Israel's Operation Rising Lion on June 13 and rising tensions in the Persian Gulf, where the United States has stepped up its military presence.

McGovern, known for his critical views on American foreign policy, pointed to historical precedents such as the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident that justified the escalation of the Vietnam War. He suggested that the USS Nimitz, which was commissioned in 1975 and is set to be decommissioned, could be a “victim” of a provocation. The carrier recently deployed to the region along with the destroyers USS Sterett and USS Dewey to support Israel, according to Naval News. McGovern suggested that a fake attack could unite the American public around a military campaign despite domestic resistance, as reported by Politico, citing efforts by Senator Rand Paul to block a war without congressional approval.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has reached a critical point. According to Al Arabiya, Israeli strikes have destroyed military facilities in the Iranian cities of Yazd and Kashan, including missile fuel depots. Iran has responded with attacks on Israeli cities, including Rehovot and Eilat, using drones and medium-range missiles, IRNA reports. Iranian Defense Minister Reza Ashtari said Tehran is prepared for “asymmetric responses,” including strikes against American interests, if the United States intervenes, Al-Monitor cites. The New York Times previously reported that Iran is threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes.