Iran’s new Qassem Bassir ballistic missile is allegedly capable of precise strikes without GPS. (Photo: X/Enhanced using AI) Iran used what officials described as new electro-optical missiles in an attempted attack on US warships for the first time on Wednesday, as Tehran stepped up its retaliation against American forces in the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a wave of attacks overnight, targeting US forces in Jordan and 10 American ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The attempted attack on the ships reportedly involved missiles fitted with electro-optical seekers – technology that uses cameras and light sensors to track and strike targets with greater precision, according to The Telegraph. US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed the attacks but said the attempts had failed. Iranian missiles targeting a US base in Jordan were also intercepted. Iran unveiled its Qassem Bassir medium-range ballistic missile last year, claiming it could carry out precision strikes without relying on GPS. It was not immediately clear whether the Qassem Bassir was the missile used against the US warships. Iran's newly appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said Tehran had deployed a new "special anti-destroyer" missile against a US warship. He described the move as part of a shift in Iran's military strategy from "reactive deterrence" to "active deterrence", following US President Donald Trump's abandonment of the Islamabad understanding. Rezaei said the missile test had "created a hell for the Americans, and they fled", and claimed it demonstrated that the US naval blockade of Iran was vulnerable. The attacks followed US strikes that destroyed five Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil hub. Iran's foreign ministry said its armed forces had acted in "legitimate defence". "In response to the US’s aggressive actions against Iranian oil tankers, armed forces, in accordance with their inherent right of legitimate defence, attacked US military bases and facilities located in Jordan, which continues to support US military attacks against Iran, as well as several US vessels," it said. The IRGC has also warned of further strikes against oil tankers and bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, calling on crews to evacuate the vessels. The latest escalation has raised fresh concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies. About 20% of the world's oil transport passes through the waterway. The attacks have also pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. Centcom said its strikes on the Iranian oil carriers came in response to Tehran's recent failed attacks. "In response to Iran’s most recent failed attacks, Centcom destroyed the IRGC crude oil carriers," it said. "American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned on Tuesday that Washington would respond to further Iranian attacks on its naval forces. "Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers, and I think you’ll see that again today," he told reporters during a trip to Colombia. Analysts cited by The Telegraph said the new missiles were unlikely to have been developed entirely from scratch and may combine elements from Iran's existing missile families with newer solid-fuel technology. The report also said the development raised questions about whether Iran was receiving assistance from Russia or China to locate US warships.